The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by Turaki and his group, thereby affirming the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified the controversial Ibadan convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The three-member panel of the appellate court, chaired by Justice Mohammed Ambi-Usi Danjuma and comprising Justice Okechukwu Onyemenam and Justice Muhammed Mustapha, delivered a unanimous ruling dismissing the appeal and awarding a cost of N2 million against the appellants.
In its decision, the court upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court which had invalidated the Ibadan convention.
The Court of Appeal further ruled that when a political party fails or refuses to conduct its congresses or conventions in line with its constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act, such matters can no longer be treated as purely internal affairs of the party.
According to the court, actions that violate a party’s constitution and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act are subject to judicial review, as they undermine internal party democracy and the legal framework regulating political parties.
The appellate court therefore affirmed that any congress or convention conducted in breach of these rules cannot stand in the eyes of the law.