The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will appeal Friday’s Abuja Federal High Court (FHC) judgment, which declined to recognise the Tanimu Turaki-led executive as the authentic leadership of the party.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, chaired by Senator Adolphus Wabara, and some founding members had approached the court, seeking a declaration for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Turaki-led INWC.
But Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim struck out the case after upholding the preliminary objections of the defendants.
The development means INEC will stick to its decision to recognise the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike.
INEC already granted the Wike-backed PDP access codes to upload the names of its presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 polls to its portal, an exercise that closed on July 14.
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Reacting to the judgment on Friday night, the Turaki-led INWC said it would appeal it because it believed the FHC’s decision was faulty.
“While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the appellate and apex courts, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein. The plaintiffs have accordingly briefed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and judgment”, the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated.
The camp insisted it stood on the path of truth and would surely be victorious one day, alluding to alleged high-wire political and monetary influence.
It added, “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!”
