There is palpable fear in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over what may be the outcome of the Appeal Court ruling on the case of the suspended party Chairman, Uche Secondus on Tuesday (today).
The appellate court in Port Harcourt will hear the appeal filed by Secondus.
Secondus has been in turmoil as the chairman of the party following his crisis with some stalwarts of the PDP.
Recall that on August 23, 2021, some stalwarts of the party had instituted a suit marked PHC/2183/CS/2021 at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, with Secondus and the PDP as defendants.
However, the court delivering its judgment on September 10, 2021, suspended Secondus from performing the functions of the national chairman of the PDP.
He, however, proceeded to the Appeal Court seeking an order of injunction restraining the PDP, its officers and representatives from holding or conducting the national convention scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021, or any other date pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal.
But despite this, the party had continued its plan to hold its national convention while discussing with Secondus to drop the appeal.
But Secondus’ legal team has insisted that the case would be heard by the Appeal Court as no instruction from him to drop the case.
His legal Counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, said “As we speak, I have no instruction from Prince Secondus to drop the case. Also, the PDP has not filed any response to our appeal. The appeal will be heard on Tuesday (today),” the senior maintained.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, informed journalists that the party did not receive any court process barring it from going ahead with the scheduled activities.
Speaking on preparations for the national convention, he stated, “The preparation for the national convention is in place, and as far as the party is concerned, the dates for the convention remain October 30 and 31.
“I want to bring to the attention of my dear colleagues that the national convention organising committee’s leaders are in town, and these are the Chairman and the governor of Adamawa State, Mr Umaru Fintiri; the Deputy Chairman and governor of Bayelsa State, Diri Duoye; as well as the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who is the Secretary of the committee; the three of them are in Abuja to oversee the convention process.
“All the respective subcommittees are working. I am the secretary of the publicity subcommittee. All the committees are working; we have about 15 subcommittees for the purpose of the convention and they’re all working.”