JUST IN: Court of Appeal Dismisses PDP Appeal Over Ibadan Convention Dispute

Court of Appeal Dismisses PDP Appeal Over Ibadan Convention Dispute
Appellate court upheld Federal High Court ruling restraining INEC recognition.
PDP ordered to pay ₦2 million for filing frivolous appeal.

The Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party challenging a judgment that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the convention had been scheduled to hold on November 15 and 16.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal lacked merit.

The panel resolved the four issues raised for determination against the PDP and affirmed the October 31 judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

The lower court had earlier granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, including an order restraining INEC from recognising the outcome of the proposed convention.

The Court of Appeal also rejected the PDP’s argument that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case on the grounds that the matter concerned the internal affairs of the party.

According to the appellate court, the plaintiffs had the legal standing to institute the suit in defence of their democratic rights. The panel further held that the PDP was not denied fair hearing as claimed in the appeal.

PDP Appeal Over Ibadan Convention Dispute

As part of the ruling, the court ordered the PDP to pay a cost of ₦2 million for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal. The appellate court is yet to deliver judgments in eight other related appeals connected to the dispute, including challenges to earlier rulings in the case.