Following a judgment of the Rivers State High Court, which in Suit No. PHC/2301/CS/2024 nullified the Ward, Local Government and State Congresses of our Party in Rivers State conducted on July 27, August 10 and August 31, 2024 respectively, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, acknowledged receipt of the judgment and threw its weight behind the State Working Committee led by Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party commended the court for its decision and called on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of the Party in Rivers State and the nation to work with the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to ensure the unity, stability, growth and continuous success of the PDP in Rivers State.
The statement reads, “with the judgement of the Court delivered on Monday, January 13, 2025, the NWC affirms the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to henceforth pilot the affairs of the PDP Rivers State Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC commends the decision of the court which reaffirms the famed position of the PDP as the bastion of transparency in the due process of internal democracy and strict adherence to the Rule of Law and Party Guidelines in the conduct of Congresses and other activities.
“The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our Party in Rivers State and the nation to work with the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to ensure the unity, stability, growth and continuous success of the PDP in Rivers State.
“The NWC charges the Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to work hard to further unite the Party in the State so that the people of Rivers State can continue to enjoy the massive dividends of democracy as being delivered by our performing governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, in line with the manifesto and policy thrust of the PDP.
“The NWC commends all members of the PDP in Rivers State for their steadfastness and unshaken belief in the ideals of the Party as a truly democratic and all-inclusive Party guided only by the collective Will, yearning and aspiration of the people”.
The control of the structure of the party in Rivers State caused a major crack in the party with Governor Siminialayi Fubara disagreeing with his boss and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The feud led to two court rulings for and against the conduct of the elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission led by Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.).
In the build-up to the election, the two main political parties, the All Progressives Congress faction in the state led by Tony Okocha and the Peoples Democratic Party under the leadership of Aaron Chukwuemeka had pulled out of the election citing a lack of due process.
The two parties loyal to the FCT minister alleged that the RSIEC did not invite them for a stakeholders meeting where the election and other issues were agreed.
Critical to the issue was who the leader of the PDP was in the state between Fubara and Wike, especially as the latter exercised a greater control of the party both at the state and national levels.
Fubara had before now prepared his loyalists vying for the local government elections to join the Action Peoples Party through which he would consolidate his stay in office with the local government structure after the elections, a strategy which his political traducers foresaw and try hard to thwart.
