A recent court judgment against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been criticized by a party chieftain, Sani Umar, as politically motivated and biased. Umar, a former media adviser to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, made the statement in an interview with Arise TV, reacting to the ruling delivered by Justice Omotosho. The judgment ordered the PDP to provide a 21-day notice before holding its national convention.
According to Umar, the judgment did not accurately reflect the facts of the case and granted reliefs that were not requested by the plaintiffs. He alleged that the judge showed bias in handling cases involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who has been accused of inducing crises within the PDP. Umar stated that the party would petition the National Judicial Council over the matter.
The court’s decision has been met with controversy, with Umar arguing that the judge ignored key issues raised by the PDP, including the question of jurisdiction. He explained that the party had asked the court to rule on the issue of jurisdiction, as the matter was an internal party affair, but the judge did not address this point.
The PDP is currently facing a suspension crisis, with four members claiming to have suspended the National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum. However, Umar maintained that these members lacked the authority to do so, as they did not form a quorum of the National Working Committee (NWC). He added that the suspension announced by the group was aimed at deceiving the public.
The National Working Committee, chaired by Damagum, has been acting within the provisions of the PDP Constitution in suspending erring members, according to Umar. He cited sections 58 and 59 of the constitution, which empower the committee to suspend any member found guilty of misconduct. Umar insisted that the PDP would appeal the judgment and proceed with its convention, applying for a stay of execution to allow the party to reorganize.
The judgment is seen as a significant setback for the PDP, which is attempting to reorganize and hold its national convention. The party’s next steps will be closely watched, as it navigates the complexities of the court’s decision and the ongoing internal conflicts. With the appeal process underway, the PDP is determined to move forward with its convention, despite the challenges posed by the court’s ruling.
