Party Suspension: Wike, PDP to know fate May 31
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed May 31 for judgment in a suit filed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, praying for an order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending or expelling him from the party.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date on Monday after the counsel to Mr Wike, Joshua Musa, and the lawyer to the PDP, Johnson Usman, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.
Mr Wike had sued the PDP, its National Working Committee and National Executive Committee as first to third respondents, respectively.
The governor, in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023, also joined PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as fourth to sixth respondents, respectively.
Mr Wike is praying for 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 to fifth respondents, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
Mr Omotosho had, on February 2, given an interim order against the party and others listed in the face of Mr Wike’s motion dated and filed on the same day.
The judge, who extended the restraining order on February 14, held that all parties should maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
Upon the resumed hearing on Monday, Mr Musa informed the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing, and he was ready to proceed.
He said the fundamental right of his client to freedom of association was being breached due to the threat by the respondents to suspend and subsequently expel him from the party, hence, the need to approach the court.
But responding, Mr Usman, who appeared for PDP and others, disagreed with Mr Musa’s submission.
He argued that the case was only based on speculation as Mr Wike had failed to provide evidence to substantiate that the respondents intended to suspend or expel him from the party, stressing that the party had not contemplated suspending or expelling the G5 governors or the Integrity Group members.
“We have said that there is no threat to suspend the applicant, and the onus is on him to prove this,” he said.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Education
Expert urges schools to teach digital literacy from basic classes
ICT expert Benjamin Balogun has urged schools to introduce digital literacy in basic classes to prepare pupils for future technological challenges.
Economy
FG targets N1 trillion in September 2 bonds offer
The Debt Management Office, on behalf of the federal government, has announced an offer of two bonds valued at N1 trillion for subscription at N1,000 per unit.
Sport
HYROX to issue lifetime ban on fans threatening athlete for defecating on herself
HYROX has threatened to impose lifetime bans on anyone who makes direct threats against Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk, who defecated on herself during an event.
Rights
CSOs advocate urgent action on pollution, ecological crises in Niger Delta
CSOs in Rivers have called for environmental policies that address the reality faced by communities whose livelihoods were ruined by pollution and ecological degradation.
Economy
Borno govt pledges to establish tax ombudsman regional office
The Borno government has pledged its support and political commitment to establishing a regional office for the newly created Tax Ombudsman Nigeria in Maiduguri.
NationWide
NIS boss tasks graduating officers on border security
The commandant of the Immigration Training School, Kano, Anthony Akuneme, said a record number of cadets were mobilised for the training, making it the largest in the school’s history.
