By Ibrahim Obansa
The runner up in the Peoples Democratic party, (PDP ), Congress held on August 31, 2024, Muhammed Sani Gambo, has intimated the leadership of the party on the brazen disobedience of a valid court order by Enemona Anyebe, which barred him from parading himself as he chairman of the party in Kogi state.
In an open letter, Gambo said the disobedience of Contempt Proceedings by Enemona Anyebe, who he claimed is still Parading Himself As Chairman of Kogi state PDP, must not be allowed to participate at the forthcoming North Central Zone Congress.
He particularly called on the chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagun, and the national secretary, to act swiftly to stop Anyebe from parading himself as chairman of Kogi PDP.
In the letter addressed to the leadership of the PDP and made available to leadership newspaper in Lokoja said Gambo, said
“I, make this submission on the premise of the orders made on 31st July, 2024 with suit no HC/OKP/54/2024 where Enemona Anyebe and respondents 1-7 are bound to obey, barred from purchase of PDP Chairmanship nomination form, from presenting himself from being screened and to participate in the State Congress.
“In suit no: HC/OKP/8/2024, Motion No:HC/OKO/55M/2024, the Court on 31st day of July, 2024 made an order against Enemona Anyebe, barred him from contesting the PDP State Congress.”
Gambo maintained that Anyebe’s case is a clear case of brazen disobedience of subsisting orders of the court, thereby making a caricature of himself to participate in the State Congress contrary to the orders of the court, thus making him to be contemptuous.
He said the court order till date was not vacated by any appellate court order.
He said “The PDP is a Party built on justice and the rule of law. For a party that is in opposition, it will amount to gross violation of contempt proceeding allowing Enemona Anyebe to participate at the North Central Congress of our Party, holding in Jos, Plateau State.”
He added that it is unfortunate that some persons choose to misconstrue and compare a case of contempt with internal affairs of the party, adding that contempt and disobedience of the court are described as criminal in nature.
“It may also interest the Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum, Chairman of our Party, National Secretary that on the, 18th February, 2025, Justice Yahaya Adamu of the State High Court delivered a judgement where he declared as follows: “The 7th respondents, Enemona Anyebe’s participation in the PDP State Congress of 31/08/2024 is illegal, null and void and hence his purported declaration by PDP as elected official is null and void”.
“It is on this premise that I wish to draw the attention of the above mentioned recognized PDP authorities, members of our Party and the public that following the orders by the Court for the arrest of Enemona Anyebe, any attempt or attempted attempt to still parade himself as Chairman of the Party in the forthcoming North Central Congress, is illegal, null and void.
“The 31st August , 2024 PDP election was an election I won as the rightful participant, as Enemona Anyebe was not qualified to contest as contained in the High Court Judgment.
“I therefore use this medium to appeal the National Leadership of our Party on Enemona Anyebe’s efforts to trample on the pronouncements of the court by still Parading himself as Chairman of the Kogi PDP, despite a court pronouncement.
“Let me add that failure to ensure that the contempt proceeding is obeyed, we may be forced to run a parallel Leadership in the Kogi State PDP. Enough is enough. Is it because I have no godfather, I called on the PDP and Nigerians to condemn the outright disobedience of the court.
“I, therefore use this medium to call on the Police, the DSS, to without further without delay effect the arrest of the impersonator for still parading himself after the judgement has been delivered. His actions will lead to breakdown of law and order and he should be held accountable.”
He added that the issue is a constitutional matter, adding that no one, no matter how highly placed, should be above the law.
Gambo added that the case of contempt has been established and except the PDP act swiftly, it will render every action taken in Jos, null and void.
“I demand Justice from our Party. This is predicated on what happened in Zamfara, Bayelsa, Imo, Plateau States and in other places where the runner ups were declared as winners, sworn in, after the purported winners of those elections were declared as not fit to contest because Contempt Proceedings has been established.
“Let me at this point emphasis that having emerged as runner up in the said Congress, I’m the duly elected Chairman of the Kogi State PDP and should be sworn in immediately.”
All efforts to reach the embattled Chairman, Enemona Anyebe proved abortive as his cell phone was switched off.
