Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The crack in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee has widened as the party and some of its national officers appointed legal representatives in favour of pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the party.
This played out at the hearing of Suit, No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1016/2024 BETWEEN HON. AARON CHUKWUEMEKA DSSRS & 5ORS V. PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) & 9ORS before his Lordship Honourable Justice P.O Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Justin Lifu was sitting as a vacation judge on Thursday when the drama ensued with three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) laying claim being the party’s legal counsel.
The three SANs all claimed to be the legitimate counsel to represent the PDP, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum (Acting National Chairman, PDP), Sen. Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu (National Secretary, PDP) and Umar M. Bature (National Organising Secretary, PDP) sued as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants respectively.
It was learned that the Plaintiffs in this suit are part of the pro-Wike group of the Party in Rivers State and current members of the Caretaker-Committees of the party at the state level and various local government areas and wards in Rivers State.
Immediately the case was called, K.C. Njemanze announced his appearance for the Plaintiffs, while A.K. Ajibade, (SAN), announced his appearance for the 1st to 4th Defendants, the party and its National Officers sued in their official capacity as the National Chairman, National Secretary and the National Organising Secretary of the party respectively.
Mr Ajibade, who is the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) noted that his appearance was in line with the powers conferred on him by Article 42 (1) of the Constitution of the peoples Democratic party as amended, 2017.
Shockingly, after A K. Ajibade, (SAN), the National Legal Adviser of the party announced appearance for the party and its National Officers, Ferdinand Oshoke Orbih (SAN) also announced appearance for the Peoples Democratic Party on the basis that he was instructed by one Kingsley Chuku.
The said Mr Chuku is a member of the current Caretaker-Committee in Rivers State and a known ardent supporter of Mr Nyesome Wike, the current FCT Minister.
Before the court could recover from the confusion created by double representation announced by two Learned Senior Counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), another senior counsel S.I. Ameh (SAN), announced appearance for Damagun, Anyanwu and Bature claiming that he was instructed by the trio to represent them.
The court, embarrassed by the attitude of the Learned Senior Counsel described as shameful a situation where three senior senior counsels will be jostling and shoving for brief in open court.
He advised the two external counsel to go back and have a meeting with the National Legal Advisers of the party so as to resolve the issue of representation before the next adjourned date.
He thereafter adjourned the matter to August 30, 2024.
