The Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has ruled that the legal dispute surrounding the congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not an internal affair of the party, affirming that the courts have jurisdiction to entertain the matter, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
In its judgment, the appellate court upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court of Nigeria presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo Omotosho, which had assumed jurisdiction over the suit filed by Austine Nwachukwu, George Turnah and Abraham Amah.
The Court of Appeal held that when a political party fails or refuses to conduct its congresses or conventions in accordance with its own constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, such actions go beyond internal party management and become matters subject to judicial review.
According to the court, once the procedures guiding congresses or conventions are breached, the exercise can no longer be protected under the doctrine of internal party affairs.
The appellate court further ruled that the outcome of such congresses or conventions cannot stand where they were conducted in violation of the party’s constitution and the relevant provisions of the law.
The suit was instituted by Austine Nwachukwu, George Turnah and Abraham Amah, who challenged the legality of the congresses conducted by the party.
The ruling reinforces the principle that political parties must strictly adhere to their constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act in the conduct of internal processes, particularly congresses and conventions that produce party officials.
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