‘Courts can’t run our party,’ Turaki-led PDP tells S’Court

…as justices reserve verdict

By Luminous Jannamike, ABUJA

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the appeals and cross-appeals arising from the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after hearing all parties.

The case has already reshaped the party’s leadership, with earlier court decisions nullifying its Ibadan convention and upholding the suspension of key officials.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP faction reacted after proceedings at the apex court, where the appeals challenge judgments delivered by Justices Omotosho and Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, and affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal had upheld the earlier rulings of the Federal High Court, which nullified the PDP’s convention held in Ibadan and sustained the suspension of several party officers, including Samuel Anyanwu and A.K. Ajibade, SAN.

Dissatisfied with the rulings, the PDP approached the Supreme Court, asking it to declare that both the trial court and the appellate court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, insisting it arose from the internal affairs of the party.

Also dissatisfied, the respondents, led by Anyanwu, filed a cross-appeal, urging the apex court to set aside the aspect of the judgment that upheld the suspension of Ajibade, Anyanwu and others.

“All parties adopted their respective processes,” Ememobong said, adding that after hearing arguments, the court reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to counsel.

“We charge all true and uncompromised PDP members to keep their faith alive,” he said.

He added that the party remains hopeful that the apex court will deliver judgments that will preserve multi-party democracy and halt the emergence of a one-party state.

“The Supreme Court has, at several times in the history of our non-linear democratic experience, remained the last hope of Nigeria and Nigerians even in the face of immense pressure and unimaginable risk,” Ememobong said.

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