Abuja, Nigeria – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging a Federal High Court judgment that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s disputed national convention.
In a unanimous decision on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court upheld the October 31 judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The lower court had barred INEC from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Delivering judgment, the appellate court resolved all four issues raised in the appeal against the PDP, ruling that the case lacked merit.
The court also rejected the party’s argument that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on the grounds that the dispute was an internal affair of the party.
According to the panel, the plaintiffs had the legal right to institute the suit in order to protect their democratic rights, adding that the PDP was not denied fair hearing as claimed in its appeal.
The court further ordered the PDP faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki to pay ₦2 million in costs for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal.
Leaders from both factions of the party were present in court when the judgment was delivered, including the groups led by Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Also present was the National Secretary of the Mohammed-led National Working Committee, Samuel Anyanwu, who was seen exchanging pleasantries with Turaki following the proceedings.
