The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has affirmed the right of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to appoint its own legal counsel without interference from the party’s National Legal Adviser.

The Rivers State chapter of the party is reportedly held sway by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The recent ruling, delivered by Justice Mohammed Obile, came after the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, challenged the authority of the state chapter’s legal adviser to appoint a lawyer to represent the party in a case involving the defection of Martin Amaewhule and 27 lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ajibade had argued that, as the national legal adviser, he was responsible for defending the party and its candidates in court and that the state chapter had no authority to appoint legal representation without his permission.

However, Justice Obile disagreed, ruling that Ajibade had no authority to challenge the appointment of Joshua Musa SAN, the lawyer chosen by the Rivers State PDP chapter to represent them in the case.

The judge further restrained Ajibade from denying the state chapter the right to appoint legal representation, striking out all objections filed by him and awarding a cost of N100,000 against him.