A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled in favour of the Legal Adviser of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by determining who represents the party between the national and state legal secretariats.
 
The court affirmed that the State Legal Adviser of the party has the right to appoint legal representation for matters concerning the party’s interests in Rivers State.

The court’s decision came after the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, challenged the State Legal Adviser’s authority to appoint Joshua Musa as legal representation in a suit marked FHC/PH/CS/90/2024, filed by the Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others against Martin Amaewhule and 25 others.

The court’s decision follows a previous ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. PDP & 2 ORS (Suit No PHC/ABJ/CS/112/2023), delivered on September 20, 2023. 

The Abuja court had interpreted Article 46(1) of the PDP’s Constitution, affirming that the State Legal Adviser has the authority to appoint legal representation for the party at the state level.

The trial Judge, Mohammed Obile, in his ruling, declared that the National Legal Adviser of the PDP lacks the authority to direct Musa, who was appointed by the State Legal Adviser, to withdraw from the case.