The South South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah has said that despite an existing court order, a proposed solidarity protest in honour of FCT Minister Nyeson Wike would proceed as scheduled.
The High Court of Bayelsa State, sitting in Yenagoa, had issued an order restraining associates of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from holding a mega rally in the state pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The court order, which was obtained on Thursday, was to stop the proposed rally by Turnah and key Wike loyalists scheduled to hold in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on April 12, 2025.
Justice I.A Uzakah granted the Motion Ex-Parte in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/133/2025 filed by the state’s Attorney General, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN). Listed as first and second defendants/respondents in the suit are the lead convener of the NEW Associates, organisers of the rally, Turnah, and Wike.
The matter was adjourned to April 11, 2025, for hearing. At a world press conference in Abuja, on Friday, Turnah argued that the planned rally does not fall within the categories banned by the court.
“Our rally as we have said is for the purpose of inaugurating a group called the New Associates, Bayelsa State Chapter, and to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State into positions of trust in the country.”
“That is the purpose. It is not for the purpose that the court order captured. In fact, the purpose for which we want to hold our rally is not captured in this order.
“So, we are going ahead. Any day we see an order of court stopping us from holding rally for the purpose of appreciating and solidarising with President Tinubu and for the purpose of inaugurating the Bayelsa State chapter of the New Associates, we comply and follow the law,” Turnah declared late Friday.
Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri had issued an order banning any rally in the state but recanted at a date.
