The Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the Federal High Court which stopped the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dealing another legal setback to a faction within the opposition party.
In a judgement delivered on Monday in Abuja, the appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the party led by Taminu Turaki. The group had challenged the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court that invalidated the party’s convention.
The Turaki-led faction had laid claim to the leadership of the PDP through a National Working Committee (NWC) elected during the convention held in Ibadan. However, the Court of Appeal found no merit in the appeal and affirmed the earlier decision halting the exercise.
The appellate court further ordered the appellants, including Turaki and members of the factional NWC, to pay a cost of ₦2 million for bringing the appeal.
The judgement followed the court’s earlier decision to consolidate several appeals arising from disputes over the PDP National Convention conducted in Ibadan on 15 and 16 November 2022. The convention had been expected to determine the party’s leadership structure but instead triggered a prolonged legal battle among rival factions.
According to reports, the Federal High Court had previously ruled that the convention did not comply with certain legal and procedural requirements, prompting the order stopping its recognition. Dissatisfied with that ruling, the Turaki-led faction approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the decision and validate the leadership produced by the convention.
However, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s position, effectively reinforcing the restriction on recognising the outcome of the disputed convention.
Legal observers say the ruling could have significant implications for the internal leadership struggle within the PDP, as it further complicates the claims of rival factions seeking legitimacy within the party’s national structure.
The decision also underscores the judiciary’s role in resolving internal party disputes that spill into the courts, particularly where compliance with electoral laws and party regulations is in question.
With the dismissal of the appeal and the financial penalty imposed on the appellants, the judgement marks another chapter in the continuing leadership crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
