Dare Babalola
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the October 31 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the national convention planned for Ibadan, Oyo State on November 15 and 16 by the PDP.
In a unanimous judgment on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the four issues for determination against the PDP.
The appeal was filed by the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (SAN).
The court held that the Federal High Court was competent to entertain the suit, rejecting the argument by the Turaki-led faction that the dispute was purely an internal affair of the party.
According to the panel, the appellants could not “repackage a clear violation of the party constitution and that of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an internal party affair.”
The court subsequently dismissed the appeal and awarded N2m in costs against the appellants.
The preliminary objections raised by the respondents, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that Chief Chris Uche (SAN), was not a proper legal counsel to represent the PDP were also dismissed by the court.
Recall that the appeal was brought by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, challenging, among others, a court order barring the party from holding its planned November 14 and 15, 2025, National Convention.
