The Peoples’ Democratic Party in Rivers State has described the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on Saturday as illegal and said its outcomes will not stand.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kenneth Yowika, the Rivers PDP praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for boycotting the convention, saying the move upheld the rule of law and democracy.
The party noted that two Federal High Courts had barred the PDP from holding the convention, while a High Court in Ibadan allowed it to proceed. Despite the conflicting rulings, the party went ahead with the event, electing new national executives and dissolving some state-level party executives.
Yowika described the convention as a “sham” and criticised the disregard for subsisting court orders. He said INEC’s decision to comply with the Federal High Court judgments exemplified adherence to democratic principles.
The Rivers PDP expressed confidence that the convention would be declared invalid by a competent court, urging members to remain calm and rely on the judiciary.
“The ill-advised convention cannot withstand legal scrutiny as it is already sub judice at the Court of Appeal. We rest our faith solely on the judiciary and urge all members to do the same,” the statement read.
