The Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has vowed to appeal a Federal High Court judgment that struck out its suit seeking recognition as the party’s leadership.
Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that the dispute concerned the internal leadership of the PDP and therefore fell outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Reacting to the decision, the Turaki-led faction said it respected the judgment but believed it conflicted with existing decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the faction said the suit was filed by the PDP Board of Trustees and some founding leaders of the party, seeking judicial recognition of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee.
According to the statement, the court upheld the defendants’ preliminary objection and struck out the case on the grounds that it related to the internal affairs of a political party.
The faction, however, insisted that the ruling would be challenged.
“While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the Appeal and apex courts,” the statement said.
It added that its lawyers had been directed to immediately file an appeal.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, the faction said it believed the Court of Appeal would uphold what it described as the principles of truth, justice and multi-party democracy.
The appeal marks the latest development in the PDP’s prolonged leadership crisis, which has continued to generate legal and political disputes within Nigeria’s main opposition party as it prepares for future elections.
