PDP Slams Court Judgement On National Convention, Describe As Assault On Democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, (yesterday) describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

However, the PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years.

“Our Party notes the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs. The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party. Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country”.

The National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, while reacting to the court decision in an interview on national television, said it was the handiwork of saboteurs.

In a similar reaction, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, described Friday’s judgement of Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court, Abuja, as “the joke of the century, open recipe for anarchy and a display of judicial brigandage”.

The Federal High Court, in the judgement held that the party failed to fulfil the statutory condition precedents that would enable it to organize the convention.

According to the court, evidence before it established that the party failed to comply with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as its own regulations.

While upholding the case that was brought before it by three aggrieved members of the party, Justice Omotosho, in his verdict that lasted over four hours, faulted the PDP for its failure to conduct valid state congresses before it slated dates to hold a convention to elect its national officers.

The plaintiffs- Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South, had in the suit marked:

FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, alleged that valid congresses were not conducted in 14 states of the federation before the convention was fixed.

Cited as defendants in the matter were; INEC; PDP; its National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; two national officers of the party, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi, as well as the NWC and NEC of the party.

The court held that it was impossible for the convention to hold when congresses to produce delegates that would vote for the national officers, had not been held in the various states. Besides, it noted that notices for the national convention were signed by only the National Chairman of the party, excluding the National Secretary.

Justice Omotosho held that such notices and correspondences amounted to a nullity in the eyes of the law, adding that failure of the PDP to comply with the laid down procedures, placed the scheduled convention in jeopardy. Consequently, he directed the party to go back and put its house in order, and to equally send the statutory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to INEC to enable it to monitor the procceses.

The plaintiffs had contended that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, made it mandatory for INEC to monitor congress of every political party before it could be deemed to have been validly conducted.

They told the court that no valid notice was served on INEC for the purpose of the planned convention.

The court, while agreeing with them, dismissed preliminary objections the defendants filed to challenge its jurisdiction to meddle in what they insisted was an internal affair of a political party. The court proceeded to restrain INEC from receiving, publishing or recognizing the outcome of the convention slated for Ibadan, pending when the relevant laws and regulations were complied with by the PDP.