High Court Orders Amaechi and PDP to Maintain Original Position of Affairs

A high court in Port Harcourt has ordered the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to maintain the original position of affairs in the party over plans to carry over a performance valuation of public offices elected under the platform of the party.

Justice Godspower Guma of the Rivers state high court in his ruling ordered the parties in the matter to desist from taking further actions which could jeopardise the hearing of the suit instituted by Governor Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe and the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council. 

Governor Amaechi’s lead counsel, Ifedianya Dedipe, said ruling of the court means that PDP should not go ahead with planned evaluation of performance of political office holders in the state elected under the platform.

“Nobody should do anything that will have the effect of tampering with the subject matter. In order words, our understanding is that they should not proceed with the question of setting up a committee to evaluate the performance in office of elected officials until the case is determined.”

Counsel to the PDP, Sammy Soniari, said they will challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter in the first place.

“Based on doctrine of sub judice, the parties are before the court there was no basis for the court to make any order, order than to set the applications for preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the suit to be heard, and besides that there was nothing else. But the court in its wisdom now said that the parties based on the doctrine of sub judice, should maintain the status quo and should not do anything to challenge the rest.” 

Meanwhile the court adjoined to the 30th of July, 2013, to hear a motion and the PDP’s challenge of the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.