A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, barred the Peoples Democratic Party from suspending or expelling Rivers State Governor-elect, Siminlalayi Fubara,
and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleged anti-party activities.
Fubara, Odu and 48 members of the PDP had asked the court to stop the party and its executives from taking punitive actions against them.
They had prayed the court to declare that the threat to suspend or expel them on account of the disagreement between the party’s National Executives and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, amounts to a denial of their rights.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgement, held that the fears of the applicants were well founded and that taking action against them would amount to a breach of their rights to freedom of association.
Justice Ekwo added that it is within the powers of the court to grant redress to persons who have evidence of acts that would amount to the infringement on their rights.
The judge averred that members of political parties cannot be suspended arbitrarily without compliance with the political party’s guidelines.