By James Orji
For the second time in less than two weeks, another court has stopped the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Uche Secondus from assuming his position, thus worsening the protracted crisis in the party.
The embattled chairman was restored back to his position on Friday by a High court in Kebbi state. He was supposed to preside over the National Executive Council Meeting, NEC of the party on Saturday, before a counter order was issued by a Calabar, Cross Rivers High Court.
Justice Edem Kooffreh, a vacation judge in Cross Rivers upheld the order by the Rivers High Court. He gave the order on Friday, while ruling on a motion ex parte marked HC/240/2021 which was filed by Enang Wani.
Justice Kooffresh while ruling on the matter issued an order banning Secondus from resuming or visiting the party’s office as chairman.
According to the Judge, “An order of interim injunction restraining the first defendant (Secondus) from presiding over the national executive committee meeting of the 2nd defendant scheduled to hold on Saturday, the 28th of August, 2012 or any subsequent meeting of the national executive committee of the second defendant and from presiding over any meeting of any organ of the second defendant or attending any of such meetings of functions in the capacity of national chairman of the party or in any other manner or form attempting to forcefully gain entrance into any such meetings or into the premises of the second defendant as national chairman of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the second defendant, its members, officers and agents from recognising the first defendant as its national chairman or from according him any of the powers, rights or privileges due to the holder of the office of the national chairman of the 2nd defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the judge said.
