The festering political crisis rocking Rivers State may not end anytime soon going by the several court orders and rulings. Barely two days after the Federal High Court in Abuja directed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State to proceed with the conduct of its ward, local government and state congresses, Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the party, its National Chairman, Iliya Damagum; and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu or their agents from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold Ward, Local Government Area, and State congresses pending the hearing and determination of the suit before him filed by bona-fide party members from across the wards in the 23 local councils of the state.

According to a statement yesterday by Nelson Chukwudi, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the judge also ordered the Inspector General of Police, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure the order is adhered to.

The judge adjourned the hearing to 1st of August, 2024. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had in his judgment barred the DSS, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and seven others from “stopping, truncating or disrupting” the conduct of the congresses of the party.

The congresses were scheduled to commence on July 27 across the country with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26 and then the state congresses in September.

Recall that Governor Fubara and his estranged godfather, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have been in a political loggerhead since October 31, 2023.