Jubilation in PDP as Appeal Court okays convention

Secondus Approaches S’Court, Vows To Resist Impunity

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in jubilant mood, following the dismissal by the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, of the application by the former National Chairman, Uche Secondus, seeking suspension of the party’s convention billed for today.

Secondus, in an appeal marked CA/PH/339, had asked the court to restrain PDP from conducting today’s national convention. The former chairman, who had skirmishes with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had, through his lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), prayed the court to suspend the convention and grant him the right to preside over the convention for the party.

However, the three-man appeal panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, in a unanimous decision yesterday, set aside Secondus’ appeal. The judges held that the application was only aimed at distracting the party from going on with the convention, and lacked the locus standi.

The court ruled that the appellant failed to challenge his suspension and indicate interest in the chairmanship contest upon the expiration of his tenure in December 10, 2021; hence it ordered the party to go on with the convention unhindered.

But Oyetibo, while reacting outside the courtroom, said the dismissal of his client’s application was not the end of it, as the instructions of the appeal were still alive.

Secondus, through Media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, revealed that his lawyers had been instructed to file appeal at the Supreme Court. He said: “I have just been briefed of the ruling of the Court of Appeal dismissing my motion to halt the national convention of the party. I respect the position of the court, though I disagree totally with it.

“Even as the substantive case is still pending at the Court of Appeal, I have instructed my lawyers to study the ruling with a view to appealing it immediately, as no abuse of the constitution of our dear party should be allowed to stand.”

Reacting to the judgment, Rivers State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Sydney Gbara, said the party members were most delighted over the ruling.

His words: “Once more, the judiciary has shown us that it is the voice of the common man in Nigeria. For us as a party, this is a boost to our resolve to take over power in 2023. All members of PDP should come together and believe in the party because Nigerians are waiting for PDP to rescue the nation in 2023.”

At the Wadata Plaza, yesterday, there was wild jubilation, as news trickled in about 1.00pm that the convention would hold. Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, said the court victory was expected because the party didn’t breach any provision of its constitution.

At Eagle Square, proposed venue of the convention, the preparation tempo was high. Committee members were also on the ground putting final touches ahead of today’s convention.

However, Chairman of Accreditation Sub-Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, said the planning and outcome of the convention would prove that the party was ready to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.

Okowa, at a meeting of the committee in Abuja, said PDP was ready to re-take leadership at the centre in 2023, emphasising that the convention would strengthen unity and democracy, not only in the party, but also in the country.