By Godwin Anene
The Rivers State division of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed the suit filed by the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to stop weekend’s convention of the party.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by the appeal panel led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, the court okayed the convention slated for Sunday October 31st, 2021 in Abuja.
The panel ruled that Secondus’ application was only aimed to distract the party from going on with the convention to elect new officers for the party.
Reading the decision of the court on behalf of the panel, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, recalled that the application which he termed consequential was filled on the 14th of October and all arguments on the matter taken on the 28th after some amendments.
He recalled that Secondus on two grounds was seeking an Order of Injunction restraining the PDP from holding the Convention, pending the hearing and determination of his sacking, and an order directing parties to the appeal to maintain Status Quo Ante Bellum that was before the 22nd of August 2021, when he as the National Chairman of the party was removed, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
Kolawole noted that the court listened to the counsels in the matter and made review of the issues raised by the parties, noting that there was no legal right in suspending the decision of the lower court on the substantive matter.
He regretted that since August the party took decision of the convention and set up committees to man the event that he (Secondus) did not take any step only to come few days to the convention to seek suspension.
Kolawole said on the issues of right that there was no personal right which the court can protect for the appellant applicant, because the office he occupied as the chairman of the party was public.
He bemaoned that Secondus had remained silent since he was sacked and his office taken without saying a word, adding that his late move was to take a shot at the national convention.
Kolawole said granting the prayers would cause inconveniences, noting that greater justice would be done by refusing the application of the appallant to stop the convention, or annulling the decision of the lower court.
“The appellant (Secondus) motion fails and is hereby dismissed. The sixth respondent (PDP) is empowered to hold its convention without hindrances,” he read.
