By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed a new dimension on Thursday as a Kebbi State High Court restored the embattled National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to his position
Justice Nusirat I. Umar, a vacation Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, ordered Secondus to return to his position as the National Chairman of the main opposition party.
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Degema, had on Monday issued an interim injunction restraining Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman and member of PDP.
Hon. Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division vacation court sitting in Port Harcourt granted the order following a suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 filed by Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen and Umezirike Onucha against Uche Secondus (1st defendant) and the PDP (2nd defendant).
The judge, after the reading of the affidavit in support of the motion of ex-parte as well as the written address, and after hearing the submission of H.A. Bello, counsel to applicants, granted the interim injunction restraining Secondus from parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP.
Excerpt from the order read: “That an order restraining the 1st defendant from parading himself as a member of the 2nd defendant or the national chairman of the defendant or performing the functions of national chairman of the 2nd defendant or calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the 2nd defendant or any committee of the 2nd defendant at the Ward, Local Government or State level or calling for any Ward, Local Government or State Congress of the 2nd defendant or setting up committees for such Congresses or participating in any activity of the 2nd defendant whatsoever whilst on suspension as a member of the 2nd defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The judge also granted leave to serve by substituted means the originating summons, motion on notice, all orders made by the court and all subsequent processes on the respondent by pasting same on his gate at No.1 William Jumbo Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt.
The judge further granted leave to serve by substituted means orders made by the court on the respondents by publishing same in the Nation.
But reacting to the order, Secondus said he was ready to defend himself.
A statement from his media office, signed by Ike Abonyi said, “If Secondus and the party are taken to court, they will defend themselves.
“PDP and Secondus are not afraid of court, this party is a child of history, owned by Nigerians, bigger than any individual or group including desperadoes,” he said.
On Thursday, Secondus made good his boast to defend himself as a Kebbi High Court came to his rescue.
Giving the order in a suit brought before her in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital in case KB/AC/M. 170/2021, Justice Umar said she was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order should be granted on the purported suspension of Prince Secondus pending the determination of the case.
“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the first respondent (Uche Secondus) to continue exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant ) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution pending the hearing and final determination of applicant’s motion on notice. “
Three concerned members of the party, Yahaya Usman , Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman are the Claimants/Applicant in the case while Prince Secondus and the PDP are the Defendants/Respondents.
Shortly before the Court order, the PDP Chairman’s media office had issued a statement dentying that the chairman was shopping for a court order.
Titled “Enemies of PDP, voyage of fake news,” the statement by Mr. Ike Abonyi, SA Media, said: “The attention of the media office of Prince Uche Secondus has been drawn to a scandalous blackmail going that he is shopping for court order.
“This fake and unfounded news is being propagated by the known enemies of PDP working in liaison with some APC elements determined to destroy the party.
“Every discerning mind following events in PDP knows those behind crisis in the party and how determined they are to ensure that peace eludes it to the desires and satisfaction of ruling party they are working for.
“The media office is privy to an alliance these anti-PDP forces have entered with critical persons in the government to ensure that peace efforts in PDP is undermined.
“Members of the public particularly patriotic PDP members are therefore advised to watch out for more blackmailing stories from these groups and treat them as fake news.”