PDP boycotts court’s order, sets to hold convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to hold its national convention slated for Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in spite of an interim order stopping the exercise.

Prince Dayo Adeyeye, member of PDP National Caretaker Committee in charge of Publicity gave this indication on Monday.

Adeyeye said that the party’s attention had been drawn “once again to another act of judicial recklessness’’ by the Honourable Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Okon Abang of the purported suspension of the party convention.

He said that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, had earlier in the day given a clear order on the convention in favour of the party.

“A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had earlier in the day given a comprehensive Order wherein the Honourable Judge specifically ordered the PDP to proceed with the convention as scheduled without hindrance

“Indeed his lordship while giving the Order mandated all relevant agencies including the Police, DSS and INEC to cooperate with the party in organising a hitch free National Convention.

“You may also wish to note that the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, gave an Interlocutory Order while Justice Okon Abang, Abuja, gave an Interim Order.

“The Order of Port Harcourt is clearly superior and earlier in time to the Interim Order given by Justice Okon Abang.

“In the light of the above, PDP as a law abiding party is obeying the Order of the Port Harcourt Federal High Court until set aside by any competent Court of jurisdiction.

“In view of the above, the 2016 Repeat National Convention of the PDP will continue as scheduled,’’ Adeyeye said.

He added that the party will welcome all delegates, party leaders, other critical stakeholders, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitoring team and other friends of PDP to Port Harcourt.

He wished the members and supporters of the PDP a successful national convention.

Meanwhile, Mr Cairo Ojougboh, the deputy national chairman of the Ali-Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP, has said that the Makarfi led committee would not try to hold the convention.

He warned that if the committee goes ahead to hold the convention, in spite of the Abuja court order, it would face the consequence.

“The Abuja court has stopped them and it is obvious that the court in its order made reference to that of Port Harcourt they are relying on,’’ he said.