Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has again ordered status quo be maintained in the suit filed by the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike over threats to expel him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
Justice Omotosho also held that any action or step made to make the outcome of the motion on notice dated February 2nd, 2023 futile, will be a nullity.
The Court subsequently adjourned to March 6, for the hearing of the suit after counsel to the governor, told the court that the respondents just served him with a counter affidavit to the suit and he needed time to respond.
Among the respondents in the matter are the Peoples Democratic Party; the PDP National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee of the PDP; the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The respondents in their counter affidavit are specifically challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, stating that the matter is a domestic affair and that Wike lacked a reasonable cause of action.
They are urging the court to dismiss the suit.
Governor Wike had in an ex-parte application filed before the court, complained of the threat by the leadership of the PDP to either suspend or expel him.