Turaki-Led PDP Hints at Reason Behind Court Ruling in Favour of Wike’s Camp

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suggested that “the politics of power, money and greed” may have influenced the Federal High Court’s decision to strike out its suit seeking recognition of its leadership.

Friday’s judgment favoured the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The suit was filed by the PDP Board of Trustees and some founding leaders of the party, seeking, among other reliefs, an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee.

Delivering judgment, Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim held that the dispute concerned the leadership of the PDP, describing it as an internal party matter over which the court lacked jurisdiction. He also ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and held that the case amounted to an abuse of court process.

The court further noted that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the Turaki-led executive or that they had the authority to sue on behalf of the PDP. It also held that the party’s convention, which produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led executives backed by the Wike camp, had been monitored by INEC, making the issues raised in the suit academic.

In addition, the court struck out the PDP’s name from the suit, ruled that the case should not have been commenced by originating summons because of its contentious nature, and ordered the plaintiffs to pay N70 million in costs to the defendants. The plaintiffs’ counsel was also directed to personally pay N10 million to discourage what the court described as frivolous pre-election litigation.

Reacting to the ruling, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the judgment was disappointing and hinted that political interests may have influenced the outcome

The faction said it respected the court but disagreed with the decision, insisting that it conflicted with previous judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the Appeal and apex courts, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein,” the statement said.

It also disclosed that it had already instructed its lawyers to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

“The plaintiffs have accordingly briefed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and judgment,” it added.

Continuing, Ememobong said, “We are hopeful that as we climb the ladder of the law upwards, the victory of truth over lies, principles over compromise and the survival of true opposition and multi-party democracy will be assured. The politics of power, money and greed may last for a while, but we are certain that though our victory may be postponed, as the struggle continues, we will eventually attain it. Aluta continua, Victoria ascerta!”

The legal battle is the latest development in the prolonged leadership crisis rocking the PDP, which months ago was the main opposition party boasting of a number of governors.

The dispute has split the party into rival camps, with one aligned with Wike supporting the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership, while the other, led by Kabiru Turaki and several founding members of the party, continues to challenge its legitimacy through the courts.