Martin Chike Amaewhule, Speaker of the 27-member House of Assembly in Rivers State, was among the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders who participated in the party’s ward congress on Saturday, despite court orders halting the exercise.

Amaewhule arrived at Ward 1 Oro Igwe in Obio Akpor Local Government Area to cheers from a crowd of supporters.

The party members reportedly held the congress at Eliozu community hall, where they successfully elected new ward executives and a three-man delegate.

The event was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP also held its congress in Ward 14, Eneka/Rukpokwu, in Obio/Akpor LGA.

According to sources, the event saw a massive turnout of party faithful, who participated in the exercise and re-elected Chukwuemeka Owhor as chairman for a second term.

Wobe Mike Junior was reportedly elected the Vice-Chairman; ThankGod Wuzor, Secretary; Ogbonna Joy Wobiareari, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Nyekwe Victor Nyebuchi – Publicity Secretary; Iyke Chinda, Treasurer and Owunnah Prince Ovunda’ Youth Leader among others.

Owhor was quoted as thanking party members for re-electing him for a second term, promising to carry all members along in his leadership for the progress of the party at the ward level.

The PDP was also said to have held its congress in Ward13 Obio/Akpor LGA where Chief Wenekanma Chijioke expressed joy over the turnout of members.

He was also quoted as saying that Ward 13 was solidly behind the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, whom he described as the political leader of PDP in Rivers State.

Nsirim Samuel Wilson was said to have thanked the party for re-electing him as the chairman of the ward.

It was gathered that the ward congress was observed by INEC officials and security agencies

A similar exercise was reportedly held unhindered at ward five in Ogu Bolo local government area.

Supporters of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were said to have avoided the exercise in obedience to the two court orders.

But Amaewhule and other supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom partook in it relying on an earlier Federal High Court order that validated the exercise.

Justice Charles Wali on Friday barred the party, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold ward, local government, and state congresses pending the determination of the suit before the court.

The judge further directed the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enforce the order.

Before Wali’s order, Justice Sobere Biambo had issued an order in a suit filed by David Omereji and 10 others stopping the PDP, its national chairperson, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary from conducting the congress.

However, a Federal High Court in Abuja was said to have countered the first order and allowed the PDP to proceed with its congresses.

Justice Peter Lifu had barred the Department of State Services, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and seven others from “stopping, truncating, or disrupting” the congresses. (The Nation)

Update news