The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the national convention held by the party in Ibadan, describing the exercise as illegal, unauthorised and incapable of producing valid national officers.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kenneth Yowika, the Rivers PDP said the organisers defied two subsisting Federal High Court orders restraining the PDP from holding the convention. It noted that although one court in Ibadan purportedly granted permission, the party chose to ignore conflicting rulings and proceeded with the event.

Yowika described the convention as a “sham” lacking legitimacy from the outset, stressing that the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend validated the chapter’s position. According to him, INEC’s absence demonstrated respect for the rule of law and aligned fully with the court orders against the convention.

He expressed confidence that the exercise would be nullified by a competent court, noting that the matter was already before the Court of Appeal.

The Rivers PDP urged party members to remain calm and allow the judiciary to resolve the legal disputes surrounding the convention.

“The ill-advised convention cannot withstand legal scrutiny as it is already sub judice at the Court of Appeal. We rest our faith solely on the judiciary and urge all members to do the same,” the statement read.