The Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Barrister Kingsley Chuku, has asserted that the controversial appeal filed at the Port Harcourt Division of the Appeal Court regarding Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 was authorized by the state chapter of the party.
This statement comes after the national leadership of the PDP disowned an appeal challenging a Rivers State High Court order. The order had restrained the state’s Chief Judge and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party declared that no individual or organ within the party has the authority to file or engage external solicitors for cases on behalf of the party.
In response, Chuku issued a statement on Tuesday affirming that the appeal was indeed authorized by the state chapter of the PDP. “I reiterate that the Rivers State chapter of the party authorized the filing of the appeal,” he said.
Chuku referenced a judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which he claimed empowered state legal advisers of the PDP to appoint legal representation for the party concerning state-level activities.
“We want to put it on record that the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. People’s Democratic Party & 2 ORS – Suit No PHC/ABJ/CS/112/2023 delivered on the 20th day of September, 2023, had interpreted Article 46(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party and declared that the State Legal Adviser of the party is vested with the requisite powers and authority to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the State Level,” Chuku stated.
He further noted, “It is pertinent to state that the Peoples Democratic Party did not appeal against the said judgment till date.”
DailyPost