A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appealed a Federal High Court ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the results of the party’s national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal.
On November 15 and 16, the convention was supposed to take place.
A three-member panel of the appellate court unanimously ruled on Monday that the PDP’s appeal was without substance.
The panel upheld the decision made by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on October 31 and settled the four complaints brought against the party.
All of the plaintiffs’ requested remedies, including preventing INEC from acknowledging the planned convention’s decision, had been granted by the lower court.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the PDP’s claim that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to consider the lawsuit since the issues at hand were party-specific.
The plaintiffs had the legal right to file a lawsuit to defend their democratic rights, the appeal court ruled.
Contrary to what the PDP claimed in its appeal, the panel also decided that it was not denied a fair hearing.
The appellate court’s decision mandated that the PDP reimburse ₦2 million for launching what it called a frivolous appeal.
Eight further related appeals relating to the case, including challenges to previous rulings and verdicts, have not yet received a decision from the court.
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