Appeal Court Upholds Order Preventing INEC from Recognizing PDP’s Ibadan Convention

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP challenging the earlier decision of the Federal High Court. The court affirmed the October 31 judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which restrained INEC from acknowledging the decisions reached during the party’s convention held on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

The justices resolved all four issues raised by the PDP in the appeal against the party, describing the arguments as lacking merit and frivolous.

Consequently, the court awarded a cost of N2 million against the PDP.

The ruling means that INEC will continue to be restrained from recognizing the outcomes of the convention until any further legal steps are taken or a higher court overturns the decision.