By G9ija

The Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order on Monday, prohibiting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from attempting to suspend or expel Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 and filed on February 2nd, named the PDP, its National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as respondents.

Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court made the order after Wike filed an ex-parte motion against the entire leadership of the PDP.

He ordered 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 February 2, 2023, nugatory and worthless.

“That any act or step or action made so as to make the outcome of the Motion on Notice dated and filed February 2, 2023, nugatory shall be a nullity.

Wike, the applicant, requested an order from the court to preserve the current situation and halt any actions regarding the threat of suspension or expulsion by the first to fifth Respondents until the hearing and resolution of the originating motion.

Additionally, Wike sought permission from the court to serve the motion on notice, originating motion, and other court documents on the first to fifth Respondents through alternative means, such as posting at the PDP National Secretariat.

“That leave is hereby granted to the applicant 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 S, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” the Justice ruled.

Justice Omotosho further ordered that a hearing notice be sent to all Respondents.

After considering the affidavit supporting the ex-parte motion, which was deposed by Precious Ikpe and filed at the court registry, and after listening to Dr J Y Musa who appeared on behalf of the applicant, the court granted the requested reliefs.

The court adjourned until February 14, 2023 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice filed on February 2, 2023.