An Abia State High Court in the Bende Judicial Division has confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains bound by a previous order that prohibits it from holding State, Local Government, and Ward congresses in Abia State. This ruling comes just hours before the party’s rescheduled State Congress set for Saturday, October 26.
The court’s order, dated October 25, pertains to a suit marked HB/3/2024, filed by claimants Francis Etuzu, Chidindu Kalu Kalu, and Enyinnaya Ogbu. Justice C. U. Okoroafor presided over the case and has mandated that contempt proceedings be initiated against key PDP officials, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary; Alwell Asiforo Okere, the Caretaker Committee Chairman for Abia; and Kenneth Madubuike, the Caretaker Committee Secretary.
The court has allowed the claimants to serve Forms 48, 49, and other relevant documents regarding the contempt proceedings to the defendants. This can be accomplished by delivering the documents to any adult present at the PDP Abia Secretariat or by posting them at the secretariat’s location. Additionally, service can be conducted electronically via the party’s personal WhatsApp numbers.
Furthermore, the court reminded all parties that the earlier ruling made on July 23, 2024, which barred the PDP from conducting its ward congress scheduled for July 27, continues to be in effect until the substantive matter is resolved. The court also prohibited any extension of the tenure of the Okere-led State Working Committee (SWC) of the party.