The Supreme Court has dismissed the first appeal by the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision, which affirmed the judgement of Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja barring the party from proceeding with its national convention without accommodating the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.
In a split judgement of three justices to two, the apex court held that the faction disobeyed court order and went ahead with the convention.
In the lead judgement read by Justice Adah, the court nullified the convention, affirming the decision of the lower court.
The minority judgement by the two justices upheld the appeal on ground that the issue of issuance of form to Lamido to contest chairmanship of the party is an internal party affair.
The Supreme Court has also dismissed the second appeal, filed by the PDP, its National Working Committee, NWC and National Executive Committee, NEC against the judgement of the Court of Appeal Abuja, which affirmed the earlier decision by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC from monitoring the Ibadan convention pending when conditions precedent were met.
In a split judgment of three to two, Justice Nwosu Iheme who read the lead judgement condemned in strong terms the disobedience of court order.
She also condemned in strong terms, judges who make their courts available for forum shopping and lawyers who indulge in such, stating that it is an approach to dooms day, if such acts continue.
The minority judgement centred also on the issue of jurisdiction, noting that facts of the appeal were internal disputes of the party and that no court should delve into internal affairs of the party.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
