Appeal Court uphold judgement that rejects PDP convention

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the High Court judgement that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the  Peoples Democratic Party convention.

The appellate court delivered the judgment with members of the opposition party from both divides present in court.

In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the four issues for determination against the PDP.

The court held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit and that the Federal High Court was right to have delivered the October 31 judgment and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The Court of Appeal faulted the PDP’s claim that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case on the grounds that the issues involved were solely the internal affairs of the party.

The court also held that the plaintiffs had the locus standi (the right) to institute the suit to protect their democratic rights and that the PDP was not denied fair hearing, as it claimed in its appeal.

The court further awarded the sum of N2 million as costs against the PDP (Turaki group) for filing a frivolous appeal.

Among those present at the court were the group members led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and others from the group led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.