The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has appointed an interim leadership to stabilize its affairs following a court ruling that removed Aaron Chukwuemeka as the state party chairman.
On Monday, a High Court, presided over by Justice Stephen Jumbo, issued a ruling on an interlocutory injunction filed by Edwin Woko and three other PDP members. The court restrained Chukwuemeka and his executive team from continuing to represent themselves as the legitimate PDP executives in the state.
The petitioners, including Woko, argued that the congresses which produced Chukwuemeka’s executive were conducted in violation of an existing court order, thus rendering them illegal. In his judgment, Justice Jumbo declared that the congresses held on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, lacked legal standing and were invalid from the outset. The judge further nullified these congresses, reinforcing the decision made by a previous ruling on July 20, 2024, which had stopped the PDP from proceeding with the congresses.
In response to the ruling, the PDP in Rivers State swiftly appointed Nname Robinson Ewor, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic and Rivers West Senatorial Vice Chairman of the party, as the acting state chairman. The party also announced the appointment of a new interim executive team to address ongoing internal conflicts and power struggles within the party.
The list of the interim executive members includes: Nname Robinson Ewor – Acting State Chairman, Field Nkor – Acting State Secretary, William Fialaosika – Member, Bellor Kingsley Waite – Member, Sydney Gbara – Member, Uranta Humphrey Clinton – Member, Victor Pepple – Member, Alom Austin Mba – Member, Beauty Adokiye – Member, Emily Solomon – Member. Sunny Daniel – Member, Sule Amakiri – Member, Alalibo Graham Braide – Member, Simon Hart – Member, Ngozi Ogbonda – Member, Constance Oruma – Member, Augusta Agwor – Member
Additionally, Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen in the state will also be part of the leadership, including:Handsome Ekelechi Agile (Ahoada East), Thompson Marcus (Ogu/Bolo), Oba Fred (Okrika), Christian Obene (Akulga), Dennis Amadi (Ikwerre), Nwuche Chukwuemeka (Ahoada West), Wilcox Buruwi (Bonny),Pepple Godwin (Opobo), Monday Dumiye (Gokana), Oduye Tom-West (Asalga), Victor Ere (Andoni) – Member, Princewill Ejikwe (Onelga), Otamiri Ngubo (Etche), Minikwu Uche (Emohua).
Chukwuemeka, along with the now-ousted state executive members, had been loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whose influence has been a key factor in the ongoing political dynamics within the party in the state.
