The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, describing it as a major victory that clears the way for the recognition of the party’s Interim National Working Committee (NWC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien, the faction said the appellate court’s decision effectively invalidated the basis upon which a Caretaker Committee backed by a rival faction of the party had been recognised.
According to the statement, the Court of Appeal held that there were no longer any live issues requiring determination in the appeal, noting that the principal issue before the court concerned the PDP’s disputed national convention, which had already been nullified by the Supreme Court.
The party further stated that the appellate court found that the aspect of the Federal High Court judgment which recognised the Caretaker Committee was not an issue submitted for determination and ought not to have formed part of the trial court’s decision. Although the Court of Appeal observed that the appropriate remedy would ordinarily have been an order for retrial on that issue, it held that such a step would serve no useful purpose since the substantive dispute had become academic.
The court also affirmed the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade and, by implication, former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and others, holding that Ajibade lacked the authority to act on behalf of the party.
Reacting to the ruling, the Turaki-led faction maintained that the judgment effectively nullifies the legal foundation of an earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which had been relied upon in recognising the Caretaker Committee.
The faction noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously relied on the Ibadan judgment in extending recognition to the committee and expressed the expectation that the electoral body would now withdraw that recognition in compliance with the appellate court’s decision.
It further urged INEC to recognise the Interim National Working Committee led by Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as the legitimate leadership of the party.
The PDP faction described the judgment as a vindication of its position and a reaffirmation of due process within the party. It added that it would continue to engage relevant institutions to ensure full compliance with the decision in the interest of stability and effective party administration.