PDP crisis: ‘NWC produced by Ibadan Convention remains legally intact – Turaki insists 

PDPBy, David Usman, Abuja

The fractional national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has insisted that the National Working Committee produced by the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the Party in the country.

 Turaki who made this known to journalists in Abuja said : “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.

“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. 

“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.

“However, and most respectfully, the court proceeded suo motu to grant reliefs that were neither prayed for nor canvassed by any of the parties. 

“More importantly, the judgment is in material conflict with subsisting orders and previous judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“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.

“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. 

“In that sense, this particular judgment is, technically speaking, academic, pending the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.

“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.

“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.

“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 said