The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing its suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and list members of the party’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC).
The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, on Friday described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice and vowed to pursue every legal avenue to challenge the decision.
The BoT said it received the judgment “with utter dismay,” arguing that the court failed to compel INEC to comply with what it described as existing judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court regarding the leadership of the party.
According to the PDP BoT, the Federal High Court’s decision amounted to a direct challenge to the authority of Nigeria’s superior courts.
“The BoT strongly rejects the decision of the High Court which is a direct affront to the superior authority of the Court of Appeal, the supremacy of the Supreme Court, the integrity of the Institution of the Judiciary and the sanctity of the law,” the statement by Wabara read.
The Board further accused the trial court of exceeding its constitutional powers by making pronouncements that allegedly contradicted decisions already reached by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“It is rather strange that the High Court went beyond its bounds and arrogated itself powers to make pronouncements over and above the pronouncements of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court by recognizing the actions of individuals whose suspension and expulsion from the party had been upheld by the two superior courts,” the BoT stated.
The PDP also faulted the court for making findings in favour of individuals who were not parties to the suit before it.
“Equally strange is that the High Court went outside the issues before it to make pronouncements in favour of individuals that were not parties in the case,” the statement added.
Maintaining that the ruling was inconsistent with established legal principles, the BoT insisted that it would not allow the judgment to stand unchallenged.
“It is clear that this judgment against the PDP and democracy in Nigeria cannot stand in the face of the law. The BoT is therefore determined to take every step within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice is done in the matter,” Wabara said.
The Board appealed to members and supporters of the opposition party to remain calm and united while it considers its next line of action.
“While urging teeming members and supporters of our party to remain focused, the BoT reassured that it will in a couple of days hold an emergency meeting and inform party members and Nigerians on the way forward,” the statement concluded.
