BREAKING; Appeal Court delivers judgement in PDP factions suit

Appeal court affirms judgment that barred INEC from validating PDP’s Convention

The Court of Appeal dismissed the argument by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki that Justice James Omotosho lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit challenging the Ibadan Convention on the grounds that the matter concerned the party’s internal affairs.
On the issue of legal representation, the appellate court also rejected the preliminary objections raised by respondents loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who argued that Chris Uche, SAN, was not competent to represent the PDP in the case.
The court held that Uche’s representation was valid, noting that the party’s former National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, had been suspended by the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The appellate court further ruled that the plaintiffs had the locus standi to institute the suit in defence of their democratic rights, adding that the PDP was not denied fair hearing as it claimed in its appeal.
It subsequently awarded a cost of N2 million against the PDP for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal.