Alleged suspension: Wike, PDP to know fate May 31
A Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 31 as the date for rendering a decision in a lawsuit filed by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, seeking an order prohibiting the Peoples Democratic Party from suspending or expelling him from the party.
Justice James Omotosho set the date on Monday after attorneys for the governor, Dr. Joshua Musa, SAN, and the PDP, Johnson Usman, SAN, adopted their procedures and presented their arguments for and against the lawsuit.
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Wike filed a lawsuit against the PDP, its National Working Committee, and its National Executive Committee as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively.
In the FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 lawsuit, the governor joined the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as fourth through sixth respondents, respectively.
Wike is requesting an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo and stay all actions relating to the threat to suspend or expel him by the first through fifth respondents pending the hearing and determination of the initial motion.
On February 2, Justice Omotosho issued an interim order against the party and others named in Wike’s motion dated and filed on February 2.
The judge, who extended the restraining order on February 14, ruled that all parties must maintain the status quo until the suit is heard and decided.
On Monday, when the hearing resumed, Musa informed the court that the matter had been adjourned and he was prepared to proceed.
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He asserted that his client’s right to freedom of association was being violated by the respondents’ threat to suspend and then expel him from the party, hence the need to petition the court.
However, Usman, who appeared for the PDP and others, disagreed with Musa’s argument.
He argued that the case was based solely on conjecture, as Wike had failed to provide proof that the respondents intended to suspend or expel him from the party.
He stated that the party had not considered suspending or expelling G5 Governors or Integrity Group members.
Musa argued that despite Usman’s assertion that there was no attempt to suspend or expel Wike, their application contained numerous allegations against the governor at Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 11, 19, 20, 21, and 22.
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