Jigawa PDP Court Appeal Upholds Ibadan Congress Nullification

The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling nullifying the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national congress held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The decision affirms an earlier Federal High Court judgment that found the congress flawed due to the exclusion of a key aspirant.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision on Monday, dismissed the PDP’s appeal, finding it lacked merit. It ruled that the trial court acted correctly in its October 31 judgment. Significantly, the court rejected the PDP’s argument that the case was a purely internal party matter beyond judicial review. It held that the plaintiffs, including former Jigawa State governor Alhaji Sule Lamido, had the legal standing (locus standi) to sue to protect their democratic rights within the party. The court also found no substantiation for the PDP’s claim of being denied a fair hearing during the trial.

Reacting to the judgment, Umar Kyari Jitau, spokesperson for the PDP in Jigawa State, described the ruling as a victory for internal democracy. He stated that the Jigawa branch had consistently argued that an injustice occurred when Lamido, a foundational party member, was prevented from contesting the national presidency due to what he termed personal interests. Lamido subsequently challenged the process in court, leading to the initial nullification now affirmed by the appellate court.

Jitau indicated that the party must now organize a fresh national congress. He cited expectations that a new congress, to elect new executives, could be held as early as next month. He expressed optimism that resolving this internal dispute through the courts would strengthen the party, allowing it to recover its previous cohesion and direction.

The judgment underscores that Nigerian political parties must adhere to internal democratic procedures and that their actions can be subject to judicial scrutiny when members’ rights are allegedly infringed. The ruling paves the way for a re-run of the congress, a critical step for the PDP as it reorganizes ahead of future elections.