Reprieve has come the way of Rivers Governor-elect, Siminlalayi Fubara and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) perceived to be loyal to the state Governor, Nyesom Wike as Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday restrained the party from either suspending or expelling them.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in two judgments on two fundamental rights enforcement suits filed by the affected PDP members, held that the fear expressed by the applicants was well founded.
Justice Ekwo further held that suspending or expelling them would amount to a breach of their rights to freedom of association.
The judge noted that it was the power of the court to grant redress to persons who had well-established acts that would amount to the infringement of their rights.
He added that due process of law must be followed by any organisation set up by law while dealing with issues relating to law.
The judge held that members of political parties could not be suspended arbitrarily without compliance with the political party’s rules and guidelines.
“The applicants have established that the respondents will likely temper with their rights,” the judge held, adding that the applicants’ suits succeeded on merit.
Fubara, his deputy, Dr Ngozi Odu and 48 federal and state legislators from Rivers State, against the party and its executives over alleged plan to suspend or expel them over their association with Wike.
The other suit was by the governorship candidate of the PDP in Cross Rivers State, Senator Sandy Onor and his running mate, Ambrose Emana, in which they claimed the party and its executives planned to suspend them over their alleged association with Wike.
The suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/123/2023 and FHC/ABJ/CS/215/2023 were filed before the last governorship election.