Rivers crisis: Appeal was authorized – PDP legal adviser counters party leadership

The Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Barrister Kingsley Chuku, has claimed that the controversial appeal filed at the Port Harcourt Division of the Appeal Court with respect to Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 was authorized by the state chapter of the party.

Newspot recalls that the national leadership of the party had disowned an appeal challenging the order of the Rivers State High Court which restrained the state’s Chief Judge and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, PDP said no individual or organ in the party has the the competence to file or engage external solicitors to file or handle cases on behalf of the party.

Reacting, Chuku, in a statement on Tuesday, claimed that the appeal was authorized by the state chapter of the party.

“I reiterate that the Rivers State chapter of the party authorized the filing of the appeal,” he said.

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The lawyer cited a judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which, according to him, authorized state legal advisers of the PDP to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the state level.

“We want to put it on record that the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. People’s Democratic Party & 2 ORS – Suit No PHC/ABJ/CS/112/2023 delivered on the 20th day of September, 2023, had interpreted Article 46(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party and declared that the State Legal Adviser of the party is vested with the requisite powers and authority to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the State Level.

“It is pertinent to state that the Peoples Democratic Party did not appeal against the said judgment till date,” he added.