*Still No Cause for Alarm, Says Party
THE Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Friday, January 30, nullified the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on November 15, last year, in the Oyo State capital.
Justice Uche Agomoh, who delivered the judgment, declared the convention invalid, on the grounds of procedural irregularities, ruling that the exercise failed to comply with the party’s constitution and established guidelines.
The court consequently barred former minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
To avoid a leadership vacuum, the Judge ruled that the Caretaker Committee, led by Abdulrahman, alongside Samuel Anyanwu, remains the only legally recognised leadership of the PDP.
The court held that the caretaker leadership shall continue to manage the affairs of the party, pending the conduct of a fresh, valid and constitutionally compliant national convention.
The judgment effectively nullifies all decisions and outcomes arising from the convention until a new convention is lawfully convened and concluded.
In a swift reaction, the Turaki-led leadership, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, insisted there was no cause for alarm.
According to him: “We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered this morning, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought on the ground that doing so would, in the court’s view, amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“We have accordingly briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter.
“Notwithstanding this judgment, the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan Convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.
“We, therefore, urge our members to remain resolute and committed as there is absolutely no cause for alarm.
“The REBIRTH movement remains firmly on course.”
