A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party from holding its congresses, which were set to start tomorrow (Saturday) at the ward level.

Justice Charles Wali’s order prohibits the PDP, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from holding any congresses in Rivers State until the court reviews and decides on the case.

The order comes after a suit was filed by at least one PDP member from each of the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State, challenging the congress arrangements.

Justice Wali also instructed the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to follow the court order.

This is the second court order in Rivers State aimed at stopping the PDP congresses. Earlier this month, Justice Sobere Biambo had also issued an order halting the PDP congress scheduled for July 27. Justice Biambo’s order stated, “An interim order is hereby issued stopping or suspending the PDP congress in Rivers State scheduled to hold on July 27 or any other date or location pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.”

However, after Justice Biambo’s order, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a counter-order allowing the PDP to continue with its congresses. Justice Peter Lifu’s ruling barred the Department of State Services, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and seven others from “stopping, truncating, or disrupting” the congresses.

Currently, there are three orders concerning the PDP congresses in Rivers State. Two High Court orders from Rivers State have halted the congresses, while a Federal High Court order has permitted the PDP to proceed.

The congresses are scheduled to start on July 27 with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26, and state congresses in September. These congresses aim to elect new officers for the PDP at various levels in Rivers State.