The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly denounced the judgment delivered on Friday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sought to halt its upcoming National Convention, labeling the ruling as an ‘assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.’

 

 

 

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, stated that the court order would not prevent the party from proceeding with its planned convention.

 

 

 

 

The party expressed dismay over the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho in a suit challenging the legality of the PDP’s internal processes leading up to the scheduled November 15 convention in Ibadan.

 

 

 

Ologunagba asserted that the court’s decision does not invalidate the party’s right to continue with its activities to elect new national officers.

 

 

 

 

“PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the national convention to elect new national officers to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years,” he said.

 

 

 

He further referenced a recent Supreme Court judgment, which, he noted, “affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.”

 

 

 

The PDP urged all party members, chapters, and organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations for the national convention as scheduled.

 

 

Committed to the rule of law, the PDP has already directed its legal team to take immediate action.

 

 

 

 

“PDP, as the leading opposition party in Nigeria committed to the rule of law has, accordingly, directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country,” Ologunagba confirmed.

 

 

The Federal High Court’s ruling, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting the outcome of any PDP national convention that did not adhere to due process of the law, as well as the party’s own guidelines and regulations.