The Supreme Court has reportedly affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeal in a political dispute involving factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effectively siding with the camp associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the ongoing leadership tussle.
According to the ruling, the apex court upheld an earlier judgment that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The case stems from internal disagreements within the PDP over the legitimacy of the convention and the processes that led to the emergence of party officials at the Ibadan gathering.
The Court of Appeal had earlier issued an order preventing INEC from giving effect to the decisions of that convention, pending the resolution of the legal and procedural issues raised by aggrieved members.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower court’s reasoning, stressing the importance of judicial compliance by political parties and stakeholders involved in the dispute.
The apex court also made a key pronouncement on legal standing, noting that a party found to be in contempt of a subsisting court order cannot properly seek the intervention of another court while still in breach.
This position, according to the judgment, reinforces the principle that obedience to court orders is a fundamental requirement in the administration of justice, especially in political disputes involving party leadership.
The decision is expected to further intensify tensions within the PDP, as factions continue to interpret the ruling differently while the broader implications for party unity and upcoming political activities remain uncertain.
