The ongoing PDP leadership crisis has seen a fresh twist as the PDP’s interim National Working Committee, led by Kabiru Turaki, has pledged to challenge the Abuja Federal High Court’s dismissal of their leadership recognition suit.
The faction noted that although they respect the judgment, they believe it directly contradicts previous rulings from both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
A Friday statement from the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the court sided with the defendants’ preliminary objection and threw out the case due to a lack of jurisdiction.
“Today, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, upheld the Preliminary Objection of the defendants and struck out the case filed by the Board of Trustees and some founding leaders of the Party, seeking, among other reliefs, the recognition of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee,” the statement read.
However, the Turaki-led faction has vowed not to back down from the PDP leadership crisis, adding that it would appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal.
“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, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein,” the statement said.
Additionally, the statement said that, “The plaintiffs have accordingly briefed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and judgment.”
The faction expressed confidence in the appeal, saying it believes the court will ultimately uphold its position.
“We are hopeful that as we climb the ladder of the law upwards, the victory of truth over lies, principles over compromise and the survival of true opposition and multi-party democracy will be assured,” the statement added.
Backstory…
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday thrown out a lawsuit that aimed to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize and publish the names of the PDP’s interim National Working Committee, which is the Turaki led PDP faction.
In his Friday ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, stating that the plaintiffs, led by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing to file the lawsuit.
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered judgement, ruling that the plaintiffs, led by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, lacked legal capacity to file the complaint. As a result, he dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.
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