We’ll appeal FCT High Court judgment – NNPP

New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) says it is taking all necessary legal steps to appeal the judgment of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court affirming Dr Agbo Major as the authentic leader of the party.

The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

Johnson described the judgment on the party’s leadership as a miscarriage of justice and an assault on democracy.

He said that what the court had done was attempting to sit on an appeal on the decision of an Abia High Court, which he described as a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

“This is an act that flies in the face of established legal hierarchy and the doctrine of stare decisis.

“The facts are clear: a group of expelled members, acting as puppets for Dr Boniface Aniebonam, approached the FCT High Court seeking a “judicial review” of a matter already pending before the Court of Appeal, Owerri.

“This blatant disregard for the rule of sub judice proves that these individuals are not seeking justice, but are part of a grand, desperate scheme to destabilise one of the viable opposition parties in Nigeria, ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The court’s decision to proceed despite clear evidence that NNPP was never served with court processes is a fatal blow to the principle of fair hearing.

“By ignoring our affidavit stating that substituted service was effected at an address not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the court has signalled a worrying lack of interest in procedural integrity,” he said.

According to him, the judgment will erode the confidence of Nigerians and the international community in the judiciary at a time when the world is watching the country’s democratic progress, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Johnson assured NNPP members and Nigerians not be discouraged, saying that the party remains a fortress.

“This is merely a temporary detour orchestrated by those who fear the people’s will.

“We are immediately taking all necessary legal steps to appeal this miscarriage of justice.

“We have absolute confidence that the appellate court will rectify this anomaly and uphold the sanctity of the law.

“The grand scheme to hijack this party will fail. Nigeria’s democracy is bigger than the desperation of a few,” he said.