Court Extends Order Stopping Wike’s Suspension

A Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party from suspending or expelling Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The court extended the interim order it made on February 2, restraining the PDP and its leadership from making suspension or expulsion moves on the Governor.

Respondents in the suit include the PDP; the National Working Committee of the party; the National Executive Council; its Chairman, Iyiocha Ayu; the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Wike had through his lawyer, Mr Joshua Musa, SAN, informed the court that the first to fifth respondents served him with a counter-affidavit they filed in opposition to the suit.

He, therefore, applied for a short adjournment to enable him file his response to the respondents.

The governor also prayed for an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo.

After hearing Wike’s lawyer, Justice Omotosho granted all the reliefs sought.

“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 notice dated and filed on 2nd February 2023 nugatory and worthless.”

“Any act or step or action made so as to make the outcome of the motion on notice dated and filed 2nd February 2023 nugatory shall be a nullity.

“That leave is hereby granted to the applicant (Wike) to serve the originating motion, motion on notice and all other processes of this court in this suit on the 1st to 5th respondents by substituted means to wit, by pasting all the said processes of court on PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he said.