𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗶-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗗𝗣 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝘂𝘁

By Alex Igbekhe

The Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has vowed to appeal the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja that struck out the suit seeking official recognition for its leadership.

Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, in a judgment delivered on Friday, dismissed the suit filed by the party’s Board of Trustees, which had sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee as the authentic leaders of the PDP.

The plaintiffs in the suit included BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, Professor Jerry Gana, and Chief Olabode George.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim upheld the preliminary objections raised by the defendants and struck out the suit on three major grounds.

First, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the dispute was an internal affair of the political party, which the courts have consistently refrained from interfering with except in clear cases of statutory or constitutional violations.

Second, the judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing, or locus standi, to institute the suit on behalf of the PDP, stating that the Board of Trustees could not validly represent the party in a leadership dispute of this nature.

Third, Justice Ibrahim found that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs had become academic and would directly conflict with existing judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

He specifically noted that the convention which produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee had been duly monitored by INEC, giving it official recognition that the court could not overturn.

The court also awarded costs of N70 million against the plaintiffs, to be paid to the defendants in the suit.

Following the judgment, INEC confirmed it would continue to recognise the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led NWC as the legitimate leadership of the PDP. That faction enjoys the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has been a key figure in the internal party struggle.

Reacting to the decision, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, through its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, issued a statement rejecting the ruling and confirming their intention to appeal.

Ememobong said, “We have carefully studied the judgment of the trial court and while we respect the court as an institution, we are convinced that this judgment is contrary to existing decisions of the appellate court and the Supreme Court on matters of this nature.”

He added, “We have left with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein. Our legal team has already been briefed and they will be taking immediate steps to challenge this decision at the Court of Appeal. We believe that the law is on our side and that justice will ultimately prevail.”

Ememobong also addressed the broader political implications of the ruling, stating, “We stand on the path of truth and we are not deterred. The politics of power, money and greed may last for a while, but we are certain that though our victory may be postponed, as the struggle continues, we will eventually attain it. We call on our supporters and all party members to remain calm and law-abiding as we pursue this matter through the appropriate legal channels.”

The case is now expected to be filed at the Court of Appeal within the statutory time frame, and both factions are bracing for what could be a prolonged legal battle that keeps the opposition party in a state of uncertainty ahead of future elections.