The Court of Appeal on Monday upheld a previous ruling that prevented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from validating the outcome of its disputed national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, ENigeria Newspaper has learnt.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court ruled that the party failed to meet key legal requirements before organising the convention that produced a factional leadership headed by Taminu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Recall that the court affirmed the earlier decision of the Federal High Court, which held that the convention could not stand because the party did not properly notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.
According to the appellate court, the lower court was right to intervene since the case involved compliance with provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and guidelines governing political parties. It therefore rejected the Turaki faction’s argument that the matter was purely an internal party affair beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.
The case originated from a suit filed by three PDP members aligned with a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. They argued that no valid notice of the convention was served on INEC and that the party also failed to conduct state congresses in several states to produce legitimate delegates.
Earlier, Justice James Omotosho had ruled that the PDP did not follow the statutory procedures required before holding the convention and directed the party to regularise its processes.
The Court of Appeal subsequently dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction and ordered the appellants to pay ₦2 million in costs.
