A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership from taking steps to either suspend or expel Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike from the party.
Justice John Kayode Omotosho issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Wike in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023.
Listed as defendants in the suit are: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP; the National Executive Council (NEC) of the PDP; its Chairman, Iyiocha Ayu; the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the ruling delivered on February 2, Justice Omotosho said the order shall subsist pending the determination of a motion on notice filed by the applicant.
Wike had, in the motion, complained of threat by the leadership of the PDP to either suspend or expel him.
He then prayed the court to, among others issue an order for the respondents to maintain status quo and stay all “actions in this matter relating to the threat to suspend or expel the applicant by the 1st to 5th respondents pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.”
Wike also sought leave for substituted serve of court papers in relation to the case on the respondents, except INEC through the national secretariat of the PDP.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho said: “An order is hereby made that all parties in this suit shall maintain peace and shall not take any action or step or act that may make the outcome of the motion on natice dated and filed on 2nd February, 2023 nugatory and worthless.
“Any act or step or action made so as ta make the outcome of the motion on notice dated and filed 2nd February, 2023 nugatory shall be a nullity.
“Leave its hereby granted to the applicant fo serve the originating motion, motion on notice and all other processcs of this court in this sust on the 1st to 5th respondents by substituted means to wit, by pasting all the saxi processes of court on PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Federal Capitai Territory, Abuja.
“This matter is adjourned till 14th day of February, 2023 for heamng of motion on notice dated and filed 2nd February, 2023.
“Hearing notice is to be issued and served on all the respondents,” Justice Omotosho said.
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