The High Court in Rivers has upheld the suspension of the embattled national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus.

The court ruling comes less than a month after the high court in Kebbi ordered Mr Secondus to return to his position as PDP chairman.

Okugbeleme Gbasam, the presiding judge, in his judgement Friday relied on the suspension of Mr Secondus ward membership in Andoni local government area of Rivers state.

Peoples Gazette learnt the matter in suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021, was brought before the court by PDP members Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen Umezirike Onucha against Mr Secondus and the national PDP.

The Gazette learnt Justice Gbasam also upheld the prayers of the five members to restrain and suspend Mr Secondus from attending and conveying PDP meetings as either the chairman or member of the party. 

Uwosuegbe Eze, counsel to the plaintiffs, said the judgement has upheld the suspension of Mr Secondus, saying all action from today onward carried out by the embattled chairman would be “null and void.”

According to him, “Hon. Justice Gbasam has given confirmation to the suspension of Uche Secondus and remains suspected from the party.

“The people that brought the case to court are members of PDP; they were not satisfied with the way the chairman is handling the party with anti-party activities.”

Mr Eze, however, stated that his clients are ready to follow up the case if appealed.

Counsel to Mr Secondus, Geoffrey Uwalaka, told reporters outside the court that his client would appeal the judgement.

Mr Uwalaka, while expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling, said he was not surprised. “I did not expect less,” he said.

He said, “we tried to bring the attention of the court to the provisions of the law; that it does not have the jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, but it did not listen to our complaints.

“The tune of the ruling said that our client has been suspended. Like I said, that is not the whole truth. We will meet at appeal. As I speak to you, we have compiled our appeal; we are going on to appeal,” counsel to Mr Secondus said.

Counsel to the PDP, Eugene Odey, told reporters the party was not allowed a fair hearing.

Justice Gbasam in August suspended Mr Secondus and had issued a restraining order against him parading himself as a member of the PDP or its national chairman or performing the functions of the national chairman of the party.