A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) forthcoming national convention. The judgment, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, stated that the PDP failed to comply with relevant laws and conditions for conducting the convention.
The plaintiffs, comprising Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George, had filed a suit against INEC, PDP, and other party officials, seeking to stop the planned convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court rejected the PDP’s argument that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to file the suit, citing that the case was not about internal party affairs but rather about INEC’s statutory duty to ensure compliance with electoral laws.
Justice Omotosho noted that the PDP failed to hold congresses in some states and breached the law by having its national chairman sign notices and correspondence without the national secretary. According to the PDP’s constitution, the national secretary is empowered to conduct and handle party correspondence, issue notices of meetings, congresses, and conventions. The court also invalidated the PDP’s October 15 National Executive meeting due to the lack of notice, which deprived INEC of the opportunity to monitor.
The judge emphasized that non-compliance with electoral laws and regulations would undermine democracy and that INEC has the power to invalidate deficient meetings, congresses, and conventions. The court ordered INEC to refuse recognition of the planned convention’s outcome, advising the PDP to issue proper notices for congresses and ensure that they are signed by both the national chairman and national secretary.
The judgment has significant implications for the PDP’s national convention and the party’s ability to conduct its internal affairs in accordance with electoral laws. The court’s decision reinforces the importance of compliance with regulatory requirements and the need for INEC to ensure that political parties adhere to the law. The PDP will need to revisit its plans for the convention and take necessary steps to address the issues raised by the court to ensure a valid and recognized outcome.
