By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party challenging an earlier judgment that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved all four issues raised for determination against the PDP, ruling that the appeal lacked merit.
The court affirmed the October 31 judgment of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
According to the appellate court, the lower court acted within its jurisdiction when it granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in the suit.
The panel also dismissed the PDP’s argument that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case on the grounds that it concerned the party’s internal affairs.
It held that the plaintiffs had the legal standing, or locus standi, to institute the action in order to safeguard their democratic rights.
The court further ruled that the PDP was not denied fair hearing as claimed in its appeal and awarded a cost of N2 million against the party for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal.
Meanwhile, the appellate court noted that it had yet to deliver judgments on eight other appeals connected to the case, which stem from other rulings and decisions arising from the dispute. 📰⚖️
