By correspondent in Lokoja.
Hon. Mohammed Sanni Gambo has called on the Nigerian Judiciary and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to enforce the rule of law and halt what he described as “illegality and impunity” within the Kogi State chapter of the party.
Gambo,in a statement he signed and made available a copy to The Reporters in Lokoja on Tuesday,insists he remains the duly elected chairman of the Kogi State PDP.
He cited valid court judgments and orders issued before and after the party’s state congress held on August 31, 2024, which barred Enemona Anyebe from participating to buttress his point.
Gambo explained that the Kogi State High Court, in Suit No. HC/OKP/54/2024, issued an order on July 31, 2024, restraining Anyebe from purchasing a nomination form, undergoing screening, or contesting in the state congress, adding that the order has neither been vacated nor appealed.
Despite this subsisting court order, Gambo noted that Anyebe unlawfully participated in the congress and has continued to parade himself as chairman, an action he described as a “brazen disobedience of court orders” and “contemptuous.”
Gambo further revealed that on February 18, 2025, Justice Yahaya Adamu of the Kogi State High Court ruled Anyebe’s participation in the congress as illegal, null, and void, and also ordered his arrest for contempt.
“The PDP is a party founded on justice and rule of law. We cannot continue to undermine our own constitution and judicial processes,” Gambo said, calling on the PDP leadership to enforce the court rulings and restore order in the state chapter.
He warned that continued disregard for judicial decisions could lead to chaos, asserting that failure to act may render all activities by the Kogi PDP null and void and potentially add to Nigeria’s growing insecurity.
Gambo emphasized that he was the only eligible candidate in the August 31, 2024, congress and emerged the winner in line with the party’s and court’s stipulations, stressing that Anyebe’s actions remain a criminal contempt of court.
He appealed to the PDP’s national leadership to swear him in as the legitimate chairman without further delay and to prevent the rule of law from being eroded within the party.
“There is a Nigerian constitution before the PDP constitution. No one should be above the law. “Failure to punish those in contempt of court encourages lawlessness,” he declared.
Gambo urged the Judiciary to act decisively in the Kogi matter to uphold justice and deter future violations of court rulings by political actors.
“I desire justice. The courts must not allow this disregard for the rule of law to stand. I ask the PDP to respect its legal obligations and immediately inaugurate me as the rightful chairman of the Kogi State PDP,” he said.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
