The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has downplayed the impact of the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, insisting that the ruling poses no threat to the party’s ongoing “rebirth” process.
Turaki made this known on Friday while addressing journalists at a press conference convened in response to the court’s decision on the Ibadan convention of the party.
According to him, the party is fully aware of the judgment delivered earlier in the day, in which the court declined to grant the order of mandamus sought by the PDP leadership. He explained that the court held that granting such an order would amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered earlier today, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought, on the ground that granting same would, in the considered opinion of the court, amount to sitting on appeal over the judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” Turaki said.
Clarifying the party’s position, the PDP chairman explained that the suit was filed to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Ibadan National Convention and allow official communication between the party and the electoral body.
“For clarity, we approached the court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Ibadan Convention and to facilitate official party communications with the Commission,” he stated.
Turaki disclosed that during the proceedings, some former members of the party who had previously been expelled applied to be joined in the suit and were admitted by the court. According to him, the individuals filed processes urging the court to reject the PDP’s prayers.
“In the course of the proceedings, some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled, applied to be joined and were so joined by the court. They filed processes urging the court not to grant our prayers, without more,” he said.
However, the PDP chairman faulted the outcome of the case, arguing that the court went beyond the reliefs sought by the parties. “However, and most respectfully, the court proceeded suo motu to grant reliefs that were neither prayed for nor canvassed by any of the parties,” Turaki said.
He further maintained that the judgment conflicts with existing court orders and decisions already issued by courts of equal jurisdiction. “More importantly, the judgment is in material conflict with subsisting orders and previous judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” he added.
Turaki announced that the PDP leadership had already taken steps to challenge the ruling. “Consequently, 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,” he said.
He stressed that the Ibadan ruling is only one of several decisions on the matter and that the substantive issues are already before the Court of Appeal. “For the avoidance of doubt, this judgment is only one among several decisions of the Federal High Court on this subject matter, and the core issues arising therefrom are already before the Court of Appeal,” Turaki noted.
“In that sense, this particular judgment is, technically speaking, academic, pending the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts,” he added.
Reassuring party members nationwide, Turaki insisted that the National Working Committee (NWC) that emerged from the Ibadan convention remains legally valid. “Let me assure all members of our great party that, notwithstanding this judgment, the National Working Committee produced by the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he declared.
He urged PDP supporters to remain calm and focused, insisting that the party’s reform agenda remains on track. “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,” Turaki said.
Concluding his remarks, the PDP chairman described the judgment as a minor hurdle in the party’s journey. “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,” he added.