PDP: Turaki faction to appeal court judgment, says no cause for alarm

The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has directed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal on the judgment of Federal High Court, Ibadan, nullifying the party’s national convention held recently in the state capital.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Friday in Abuja, said that there was no cause for alarm, insisting that the outcome of the convention remained legally intact and unshaken.

“We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered this morning, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought on the ground that doing so would, in the court’s view, amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“We have, accordingly, briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter.

“Notwithstanding this judgment, the Turaki–led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan Convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts,” Ememobong said.

He urged PDP members to remain resolute and committed, saying ‘there is absolutely no cause for alarm’.

Ememobong added that the rebirth movement remained firmly on course.