The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging a previous court ruling that barred the electoral body from recognising the outcome of the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convention had been scheduled to take place on November 15 and 16.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal lacked merit. The court resolved all four issues raised in the appeal against the PDP and upheld the earlier judgment delivered by Federal High Court of Nigeria judge James Omotosho on October 31.
The lower court had granted all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs, including an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the planned convention.
The PDP had argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, claiming that the issues raised were internal party matters. However, the Court of Appeal rejected that argument, stating that the plaintiffs had the legal right to approach the court in defence of their democratic rights.
The appellate court also ruled that the PDP was not denied a fair hearing, dismissing claims made by the party in its appeal.
As part of its decision, the court ordered the PDP to pay ₦2 million in costs, describing the appeal as frivolous.
The court is yet to rule on eight other related appeals connected to the dispute, which challenge earlier rulings tied to the case.
The latest development comes amid ongoing internal crises within the PDP, which have seen several prominent members, including lawmakers and governors, defect to other political parties.
