By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment refusing to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The judgment followed an appeal filed by Senator Adolphus Wabara and seven others, including members of the party’s Board of Trustees and founding members.
The appellants had challenged a ruling delivered by Justice Salim of the Federal High Court, which declined their request to compel INEC to recognise the interim committee led by Kabiru Turaki.
A statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, disclosed that a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal.
The panel was presided over by Justice Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu, alongside Justices Laja Balogun and Ruquayat Oremei Ayoola.
The dispute arose following the constitution of the interim committee at a National Executive Committee meeting held after a Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
However, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision in its entirety, dismissing the appeal against INEC and six other respondents.
Reacting to the judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, said the group respected the court’s decision but would challenge it before the Supreme Court.
The development marks another stage in the prolonged leadership dispute within the PDP.
