Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja which dismissed its suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise members of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, INWC.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT said it received the ruling “with utter dismay,” describing it as an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law.
The BoT had approached the court seeking to compel INEC to obey existing judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court that listed the INWC as the legitimate leadership of the party.
However, the High Court dismissed the suit. The BoT said the decision undermines the authority of superior courts and sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to Senator Wabara, it is “inexplicable” that the High Court went beyond its jurisdiction to make pronouncements that contradict the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
He noted that the two superior courts had earlier upheld the suspension and expulsion of certain individuals from the party.
The BoT accused the High Court of recognizing the actions of those same individuals.
The BoT further faulted the court for making pronouncements in favour of persons who were not parties to the suit before it. “Equally strange is that the High Court went outside the issues before it,” the statement read.
The BoT described the judgment as one “against the PDP and democracy in Nigeria” and insisted that it “cannot stand in the face of the law.”
The Board said it is determined to explore every legal avenue to ensure justice is served. It assured members that it would not allow impunity to override the decisions of the apex courts.
The BoT urged PDP members and supporters nationwide to remain calm and focused. It also announced plans to hold an emergency meeting in a couple of days to brief the party and Nigerians on the next line of action.
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