…as Abia State Chairman, Amah, Hails Ruling
The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, has dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman Muhammed and Samuel Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee as the lawful leadership of the party.
In its decision this Friday, the appellate court held that the Turaki faction’s challenge lacked sufficient merit to overturn the judgment of the Federal High court. The court further directed the faction to consolidate their case at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.
The development reinforces the authority of the caretaker committee, which has been managing the party’s affairs following internal disputes and leadership tussles. Party stakeholders have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a step toward stability within the PDP.
Speaking to journalists from Yenegoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, where is currently on a national assignment on hanky of the party, the Abia State chairman of the PDP, Elder Abraham Amah, who is also among the respondents in the matter, described the decision of the Ibadan appellate court as a welcome development.
“The decision of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal is a welcome development. As you may know, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has adjourned for ruling in nine grounds of appeal brought before it on the same matter. Now that their appeal has been rejected by the Ibadan Division, where they had gone to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which ruled against them after they sought an order of mandamus to compel INEC to recognize them, the high court instead ruled in favor of the Abdulrahman Muhammed and Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee as the authentic leaders of the PDP. We now hope that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal will promptly rule on the matter before it.
“As we have always maintained, you can’t go wrong when the law is on your side. The law has been on our side from the beginning of the crisis because the rejected faction refused to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines, and even the constitution of our party, by going ahead with the now-invalid Ibadan convention, even after two Federal High Court judgments ruled against them. So we welcome the ruling of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal on this matter,” Amah said.
