PDP rejects court ruling halting convention, describes judgment as assault on democracy
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the judgment delivered on Friday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which halted its forthcoming national convention, as an “assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.”
In a statement issued in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the court order would not derail the party’s plans to proceed with its scheduled convention.
Ologunagba expressed the party’s dismay over the ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which restrained the PDP from conducting its planned national convention slated for November 15 in Ibadan. The suit had challenged the legality of the party’s preparatory processes for the convention.
“The judgment of the court does not vitiate the ability of our party to proceed with the processes and activities towards the national convention to elect new national officers who will pilot the affairs of the PDP for the next four years,” Ologunagba stated.
He further cited a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs, noting that the PDP remains guided by constitutional principles and the rule of law.
The spokesman urged all party members, organs, and chapters nationwide to remain calm, focused, and steadfast in their preparations for the convention.
“As the leading opposition party committed to democratic values, the PDP has directed its legal team to immediately appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend, and promote multi-party democracy in Nigeria,” Ologunagba added.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting the report of any PDP national convention conducted without strict compliance with statutory provisions, party guidelines, and the Electoral Act.
