On Monday, January 13, 2025, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ruled to remove Chukwuemeka Aaron as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. Aaron is a strong supporter of former governor Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Stephen Jumbo’s ruling also nullified the PDP’s ward, local government, and state congresses that took place in July 2024. This decision comes just over a month after another High Court had nullified similar congresses held by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, which led to the removal of Wike loyalist Chief Tony Okocha as the APC chairman in Rivers.
The court’s decision to dismiss the PDP chairman followed a dispute about the legitimacy of the party’s congresses. These congresses were organized by a faction of the PDP loyal to Wike.
Earlier, on July 20, 2024, a State High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali had ordered the PDP to halt its congresses.
