…As S’Court reserves judgment on party’s convention crisis
The lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn yesterday, as its factional National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, faced parallel legal battles in Abuja.
Turaki was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama over allegations of providing false information to the police. The senior lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge when it was read in open court.
According to the prosecution, led by the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the charge stemmed from a petition dated October 5, 2022, in which Turaki allegedly accused one Saidi Mainasara with the intent of triggering police action. Authorities contend that the information contained in the petition was false and misleading.
Proceedings in the case were brief, but drew significant attention due to Turaki’s prominent role in the PDP’s ongoing leadership dispute. Following his plea, the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦100 million, with conditions set to his appearance for trial. The matter was subsequently adjourned to a later date for continuation of hearing.
In a related development, the Supreme Court of Nigeria reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, challenging the nullification of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. A 5-member panel, led by Garba Mohammed announced that a date for judgment would be communicated after parties adopted their final written addresses The appeal seeks to overturn an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which invalidated the convention on the grounds that it was conducted in defiance of a subsisting court order.
The Turaki-led executives had emerged from the disputed convention and are asking the apex court to affirm its validity.
Counsel to the appellants, led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to allow the appeal and dismiss a cross-appeal filed by opposing factions within the party.
However, respondents, including a group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and another faction represented by allies of former Jigawa State Governor Sule LamiÉ—o, argued that the appeal lacked merit and should be dismissed. They maintained that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal acted within jurisdiction, noting that the convention was held in violation of an order issued by Justice Peter Lifu, which barred the exercise pending the inclusion of LamiÉ—o in the chairmanship contest.
The PDP had argued that the matter was an internal party affair beyond the jurisdiction of the courts, but the appellate court disagreed, nullifying the convention and setting the stage for the current legal showdown at the Supreme Court.
