The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by the Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging an earlier judgment that recognised the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee of the party.
The appellate court, in its ruling, held that the appeal lacked merit and described it as “academic,” noting that it did not present any live issue for determination. The court consequently upheld the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan.
It would be recalled that in January, the Federal High Court nullified the national convention conducted by the Turaki faction and refused to recognise the executive committee that emerged from the exercise. The court instead affirmed the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman-led caretaker committee, which went ahead to organise a separate national convention that produced the party’s current National Working Committee (NWC).
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Turaki faction approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the judgment and validate its leadership structure. However, the appellate court’s decision has now reinforced the earlier verdict, effectively sustaining the authority of the caretaker committee and the outcomes of the convention it conducted.
The ruling is seen as a significant development in the internal leadership dispute within the PDP and is expected to strengthen the position of the party’s current leadership while potentially bringing an end to the protracted legal battle