Court says Godspower Ake is not the authentic chairman of the party in the oil-rich state.

An Abuja High Court, on Monday, sacked the executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State led by Godspower Ake, a loyalist of the state governor, Chubuike Amaechi.

The court,  in a ruling by Justice Ishaq Bello, recognized the executive committee led by Felix Obuah, a loyalist of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

With the judgement, Mr. Amaechi’s hold on the PDP in Rivers State appears weakened.

Mr. Obuah had challenged Mr. Ake’s election at the state congress of the PDP held in February 2011. The congress was conducted by the chairman of the party in Edo State, Dan Orbih, on the directive of the national leadership.

Adamu Talba, a judge had handled the case until his suspension by the National Judicial Council, NJC, over the controversial judgement in the case against a Director in the Police Pension Fund.

Mr. Bello had ruled that he had jurisdiction to adjudicate in the suit and adopted the affidavit sworn to by Mr. Orbih. The Edo State PDP chairman maintained in the affidavit that the result paraded by Mr. Ake did not emanate from the congress that he conducted in Rivers State.

He also overruled the video evidence to prove that Mr. Ake was the authentic and duly elected chairman of PDP in the state congress conducted in Rivers state.

Ibim Semenitari, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, told journalists that lawyers to Mr. Amaechi would study the judgement before the governor would comment on it.

“We have heard the judgment and we are waiting on a legal advice from our lawyers before making any comments”.

Mr. Amaechi has been having a running battle with the presidency and the national leadership of the PDP over his position on salient national issues and issues affecting his party.

He is believed to be among the PDP governors opposed to the planned re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.