PDP: Supreme Court reserves judgment in appeal against judgment nullifying convention
Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in PDP Faction Appeal
The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment regarding an appeal from the Taminu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The faction seeks to overturn a ruling by the Court of Appeal that annulled the party’s national convention held last year in Ibadan.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court announced Wednesday that a decision will be communicated to all parties involved at a later date. Justice Garba Mohammed, who presided over the panel, made the announcement following the presentation of legal arguments by representatives of both sides.
The Turaki faction filed the appeal to challenge the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which nullified the convention, asserting it was held in violation of a valid court order. Last year, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an injunction prohibiting the then-acting National Executive Committee, led by Ambassador Iliya Damagum, from proceeding with the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2022.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu required that the convention not take place until Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State and an aspirant for the position of national chairman, was allowed to obtain interest and nomination forms to participate.
Despite the court’s order, the PDP faction proceeded with the convention. The faction argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter, claiming it was an internal political issue beyond the scope of judicial review.
However, the appellate court ruled last month against the faction’s position, asserting that the trial court’s jurisdiction was valid. The three-member panel nullified the outcome of the convention, citing its disobedience to the Federal High Court’s order.
Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, the PDP faction advanced its case to the Supreme Court, requesting that the higher court set aside the previous rulings and recognize the matter as purely internal, beyond the jurisdiction of both lower courts.
Respondents to the appeal have urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the case, arguing it lacks merit.
