PDP says court judgment won’t stop national convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the judgement of the federal high court will not stop its preparations for the forthcoming national convention.

In a statement on Thursday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, described the judgement as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.”

BACKGROUND

On Friday, a federal high court in Abuja stopped the opposition party’s planned national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo state.

James Omotosho, the presiding judge, stated that the evidence before the court showed that the party failed to hold valid state congresses before the planned national convention as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and its own constitution.

Omotosho said notices and official correspondence signed by the PDP national chairman without the national secretary’s co-signature were “invalid” and a “breach of the law”.

The judge also faulted the party for failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before convening meetings and congresses, thereby preventing the commission from fulfilling its oversight role of monitoring such activities.

He declared that the PDP’s non-compliance with the legal provisions had jeopardised its planned convention, advising the party to rectify the infractions before proceeding with the event.

Consequently, the court barred INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognising any outcome from the proposed convention until the PDP meets all statutory requirements.

‘PLANNED CONVENTION NOT VITIATED BY COURT’

Ologunagba said despite the judgement, the opposition PDP remains “fully empowered” to continue with the processes leading to the convention, where new national officers would be elected to steer the party’s affairs for the next four years.

“However, the PDP states that the judgement of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years,” he said.

He said the recent judgement of the supreme court affirmed the “supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs”.

“The PDP therefore charges its members, chapters and organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our party,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the PDP, as the leading opposition party in Nigeria, committed to the rule of law, has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgement in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.”