A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a motion filed by loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, who sought permission to appeal a judgment that removed them from their positions as executives of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The motion was brought by William Fialasoika and 24 others, challenging the PDP over the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses despite an existing court order prohibiting such actions.
Earlier, the court had ruled that the PDP executives in Rivers, who were closely aligned with Wike, were elected through congresses that violated a court order.
On January 13, 2025, Justice Stephen Jumbo annulled the congresses and the elections that followed, including the removal of Chukwuemeka Aaron as state chairman and other local and ward executives.
In response to the ruling, the sacked executives, including Aaron, Igenewari Fubara (local government), and Thankgod Beke (ward executives), filed a motion requesting the court’s permission to appeal, arguing that they were directly affected by the decision.
However, Justice Jumbo ruled against them, stating that the PDP, as the defendant, had already filed an appeal against the judgment that nullified the congresses.
This made their request to appeal unnecessary, leading to the dismissal of their motion.
The court’s decision upholds the earlier ruling that invalidated the Wike loyalists’ positions in the PDP leadership in Rivers State.