The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging a judgement that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by a three-member panel of the appellate court, the judges resolved all four issues formulated for determination against the PDP and upheld the earlier decision of the lower court.
The appeal was filed by the PDP against the October 31 judgement delivered by James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
Justice Omotosho had restrained INEC from monitoring, recognising or validating the outcome of the national convention planned by the opposition party in Ibadan, Oyo State, scheduled for November 15 and 16, following a suit instituted by aggrieved members of the party.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the PDP approached the appellate court seeking to overturn the decision, arguing that the trial court erred in granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs and in issuing orders that could affect the party’s internal affairs.
However, in its judgement, the Court of Appeal held that the appeal lacked merit and affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in its entirety.
The appellate court ruled that Justice Omotosho acted within the law in granting the orders sought by the plaintiffs and restraining INEC from recognising the outcome of the convention.
According to the panel, the PDP failed to establish sufficient grounds to warrant the setting aside of the trial court’s judgment.
The court consequently dismissed the appeal and upheld all the reliefs earlier granted by the Federal High Court.
The judgement represents another twist in the legal disputes surrounding the leadership and internal processes of the PDP ahead of its planned national convention.
