Rivers Crisis: PDP Legal Adviser Counters Party Leadership, States Appeal Was Authorized by State Chapter

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

This statement comes amid a dispute with the national leadership of the PDP, which had previously disassociated itself from an appeal challenging an order by the Rivers State High Court. The order restrained the state’s Chief Judge and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from acting on any resolutions from the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.

On Sunday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, stated that no individual or organ within the party has the authority to file or engage external solicitors to handle cases on behalf of the party.

In response, Chuku issued a statement on Tuesday affirming that the Rivers State chapter had indeed authorized the filing of the appeal.

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

Chuku referred to a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which he claimed granted state legal advisers of the PDP the authority to appoint legal representation for the party at the state level. He cited the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. Peoples Democratic Party & 2 ORS – Suit No PHC/ABJ/CS/112/2023, delivered on September 20, 2023. This judgment, according to Chuku, interpreted Article 46(1) of the PDP’s Constitution to affirm the state legal adviser’s powers.

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