The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn on Wednesday as the Court of Appeal reportedly invalidated the judicial recognition earlier granted to the party’s controversial Caretaker Committee.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee (INWC), Comrade Ini Ememobong.
According to the statement, the appellate court held that there were no longer any live issues requiring determination in the appeal because the principal matter before the court was linked to the PDP national convention, which had already been nullified by the Supreme Court.
The party spokesman said the court further ruled that the aspect of the earlier judgment which recognised the Caretaker Committee was never an issue placed before the court for determination.
“Our lawyers have informed us that earlier today, the Court of Appeal held that there were no longer any live issues in the appeal since the main issue relates to the national convention, which the Supreme Court has nullified,” the statement said.
The PDP faction also quoted the court as holding that the recognition granted to the Caretaker Committee ought not to have been made in the first place.
“The court also held, inter alia, that the part of the judgment recognising the Caretaker Committee was not an issue before the court and therefore ought not to have been made in the first place. On this score, the court said that the right decision would have been to order a retrial, but in the circumstance where the main issue has become academic, a retrial will serve no useful purpose.”
The statement further claimed that the Court of Appeal affirmed the suspension of A.K. Ajibade and held that he lacked the authority to act on behalf of the party.
“Furthermore, the Court also affirmed the suspension of A.K. Ajibade (and by extension Sam Anyanwu and co.) and held that he had no power to act on behalf of the Party.”
According to the Interim National Working Committee, the judgment effectively nullifies the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which had formed the basis for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the Caretaker Committee.
The PDP faction consequently urged INEC to withdraw its recognition of the committee and acknowledge what it described as the duly constituted Interim National Working Committee headed by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
“This judgment of the Court of Appeal nullifies the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan. The Independent National Electoral Commission, which used the FHC judgment as its basis for recognising the illegal Caretaker Committee, is expected to immediately derecognise them and now recognise the duly constituted Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.”
The latest ruling is expected to further shape the ongoing leadership contest within Nigeria’s main opposition party as rival factions continue to battle for control of the PDP’s national structure.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no immediate reaction from INEC or those affected by the judgment.
