Court order or no order, PDP convention will hold, says Wike

Despite a court order stopping the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says the event will hold on Saturday as scheduled by its National Executive Committee (NEC).
Wike, Chairman of the party`s National Convention Committee, said at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Friday that all organs of the party approved the convention.
He said that all the organs of the party recognised by its constitution met and approved the convention.
“As I speak to you, the governors of the PDP in the 12 states we control, Deputy Senator President, party’s minority leader in the Senate, House of Representatives and every organ of the party are all in Port Harcourt for this convention,” he said.
Wike said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had indicated that it would observe the convention.
According to him, those who planned to hold a parallel convention are still members of the party and will not be thrown away.
“ PDP is still one. It will hold its National Convention on Saturday”, he said.
Wike also said that its acting National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, had clarified in writing that he did not go to court to stop the Port Harcourt convention.
He said the party`s legal team had filed a motion for stay of execution and an appeal against court orders stopping the convention.
“ In consultation with our legal team, we have filed an appeal and stay of execution.
“ It is clear that when an order is made and the party takes steps instantly by filing a motion for stay of execution and appeal, that party cannot be held for disobeying a court order”, he said.
Wike said the party was of the opinion that the purported court order by Sheriff was fraudulent because it did not emanate from him.