The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, insisting that its National Working Committee (NWC) elected at the party’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, remains valid, lawful, and intact pending the determination of the appeal.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the National Chairman of the party, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, said the party had taken note of the judgment delivered earlier in the day, which declined to grant the order of mandamus sought by the PDP.
Turaki explained that the court declined the relief on the grounds that granting it would amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
According to him, the PDP had approached the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Ibadan National Convention and enable official communication between the party and the Commission.
He disclosed that during the proceedings, some former members of the party who had earlier been expelled applied to be joined in the suit and were admitted by the court. The former members, he said, filed processes urging the court to refuse the PDP’s prayers.
However, the PDP Chairman faulted the judgment, noting that the court proceeded suo motu to grant reliefs that were neither sought nor canvassed by any of the parties.
“More critically, the judgment is in material conflict with subsisting orders and earlier judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the same subject matter,” Turaki said.
He confirmed that the party had since filed a Notice of Appeal as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution, stressing that the PDP would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law.
Turaki further stated that the Ibadan judgment was only one of several decisions of the Federal High Court on the matter, adding that the substantive issues are already before the Court of Appeal.
“In that sense, this particular judgment is technically academic, pending the final and authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts,” he said.
He reassured PDP members nationwide that, notwithstanding the judgment, the NWC produced by the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the party.
Urging members to remain calm and resolute, Turaki described the judgment as “one of the judicial bends along our journey,” adding that the party’s rebirth movement remains irreversible.
Meanwhile, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee of the PDP has welcomed the judgment, describing it as a victory for the rule of law and internal party democracy.
In a statement issued by its factional National Publicity Secretary, Jungude Haruna Mohammed, the Caretaker Committee said the Federal High Court, Oyo Division, restrained Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and others from parading themselves as members of the PDP’s National Working Committee.
The committee also claimed that the court unequivocally recognised the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Caretaker Committee as the legitimate leadership of the party and nullified the conduct and outcome of the Ibadan Convention.
The statement described the judgment as a reaffirmation that party legitimacy can only be derived from strict compliance with the PDP Constitution, extant laws, and valid court orders.
The Caretaker Committee congratulated its members and supporters for their patience and resilience and called on all PDP members to remain calm, law-abiding, and united.
It further appealed to aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation, assuring that its doors remain open for dialogue and reintegration in the interest of party unity and progress.