The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has announced that the party will appeal a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which declined to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the outcomes of the party’s Ibadan Convention.
In a press conference held on Friday, Turaki described the court’s decision as conflicting with existing orders from other courts of similar jurisdiction and emphasized that the ruling would not derail the PDP’s ongoing “rebirth” efforts.
The PDP had approached the court seeking an order of mandamus to force INEC to acknowledge the Ibadan Convention and enable official communications between the party and the electoral body. However, the court ruled that granting the order would effectively amount to reviewing decisions from coordinate courts.
During the proceedings, former party members who had been expelled were allowed to join the case and opposed the PDP’s application. Turaki noted that the court went further by granting reliefs that no party had requested, creating what he called a “material conflict” with prior judgments.
“We have filed a Notice of Appeal as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the judgement, and we are determined to pursue this matter diligently and to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” Turaki stated.
He clarified that this judgment is one of several on the matter, with core issues already pending before the Court of Appeal, rendering the Ibadan ruling “technically speaking, academic” until higher courts weigh in.
Reassuring party members, Turaki affirmed that the National Working Committee (NWC) elected at the Ibadan Convention “remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
“I therefore urge our members and supporters across the country to remain calm and resolute. There is absolutely no cause for alarm. The REBIRTH movement is steadily on course,” he added.
Turaki framed the judgment as a minor hurdle in the party’s journey, stating, “This judgment represents nothing more than the navigation of one of the judicial bends along our journey. The destination remains clear, and as history has consistently shown, it is the final outcome that ultimately matters.”
The PDP’s internal leadership disputes have been ongoing, with factions contesting control following the Ibadan Convention. This latest development underscores the party’s resolve to resolve the matter through legal channels ahead of future electoral activities.
