Following the court ruling that halted the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, its national working committee has announced the suspension of the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; deputy legal adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and national organising secretary, Umaru Bature, for a period of one month.

The party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this at a press conference on Saturday.

They were suspended for one month and referred to the party’s national disciplinary committee,” Mr Ologunagba said.

He noted that the suspended executive members cease to function in their respective capacities during the period of the suspension.

The party appointed deputy national secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, to act as the national secretary, pursuant to section 36(2) of the party constitution as amended in 2017.

In the case of the national legal adviser and the deputy national legal adviser, the national director of legal services was tasked with overseeing the department’s activities.

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Friday halted the party’s forthcoming convention, ruling that it violated the Nigerian Constitution, the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the PDP constitution.

However, the party described the ruling as an “assault on Nigeria’s democratic process”, insisting that the court order would not stop the convention.