May 31, (THEWILL) – A Federal High court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has the right to suspend or expel Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State.
The court, however, held that the expulsion or suspension of party members must be done in accordance with the party’s law.
The court, also noted that it would not dabble into the internal affairs of any political party, except where the right of a member had been violated.
“Where this right ought to be enforced, the court will do everything within its reach to ensure this. However, as fundamental and sacrosanct these rights are, they are not absolute”, James Omotosho, presiding judge of the court, said while delivering judgement in a suit filed by Wike against the PDP.
Omotosho said any member of a political party, who appeared before a disciplinary committee should be accorded fair hearing.
“And if not, any decision taken shall be null and void. This court is convinced that the applicant is entitled to a fair hearing and that the respondent also has the right to discipline its members in accordance with the law”, Omotosho added.
THEWILL reports that the former Rivers governor, had sued the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC), as 1st to 3rd respondents.
Wike, in the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023) dated and filed Feb. 2 by his lawyer, Joshua Musa (SAN), also joined the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as 4th to 6th respondents, respectively.
He had prayed for an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo and stay all actions in the matter relating to the threat to suspend or expel him by the 1st to 5th respondents pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
