PDP: Turaki camp meets Jonathan
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Chairman Kabiru Turaki, SAN, met privately with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. This marks a significant high-level consultation for the party following a recent Federal High Court ruling regarding a lawsuit initiated by its Board of Trustees (BoT).
While the party and Jonathan have not publicly disclosed the specifics of the meeting, sources indicate that discussions focused on the implications of the court’s decision and its potential impact on the ongoing leadership challenges within the party.
Turaki and his delegation visited Jonathan at his residence in the Federal Capital Territory. The party did not reveal the names of other participants, nor did it issue a statement following the meeting.
The gathering took place shortly after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a lawsuit filed by the PDP BoT. The suit sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognize the interim committee led by Turaki and to update its records accordingly.
The court ruled in favor of preliminary objections raised by INEC and other defendants, determining that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and that it did not have jurisdiction over the case.
Judge Salim Ibrahim stated, “The court does not decide hypothetical or academic questions,” noting that evidence indicated INEC had monitored the PDP convention that established the rival leadership now recognized by the commission. He added that the lawsuit attempted to revisit matters already resolved in previous rulings before dismissing it.
A source familiar with the recent meeting told Sunday Vanguard that the discussions primarily revolved around the ramifications of the judgment. The delegation provided an update on the case’s outcome and sought Jonathan’s insights on the future direction for the party.
This meeting occurs at a critical juncture for the opposition party as it strives to stabilize its leadership amid ongoing legal and political challenges ahead of forthcoming electoral activities.
