The Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Barrister Kingsley Chuku, has faulted claim by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, dissociating the PDP from the appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, against the ruling of the River State High in Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024.

In a statement it issued in Abuja on Sunday, PDP through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said it did not authorise the filling of the appeal against the judgment of Rivers State High Court.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, has ascertained that the party did not file the said appeal neither did it authorize any external solicitor to file same on its behalf,” Ologunagba said.

However, in his reaction, Barrister Kingsley Chuku cited the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which authorized States Legal Adviser of the PDP to appoint legal representation for the party in relation to the activities of the party at the State level.

The Rivers State Legal Adviser said; “Our attention has been drawn to Press Release purporting to be issued by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) dissociating the party from the appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division against the ruling of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024.

“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.

“It is pertinent to state that the Peoples Democratic Party did not appeal against the said judgment till date.

“I issued the letter of instruction to the counsel who filed processes in the case in question, i.e. Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 and authorized him to file the Notice of Appeal, relying on the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in the case of Ambassador Desmond Akawo v. People’s Democratic Party & 2 ORS (Supra).

“For avoidance of doubt and for further clarity, I have decided to make available to the public the full details of the judgment under reference.

“I reiterate that the Rivers State chapter of the party authorized the filing of the appeal.”