Some PDP members had approached the Imo State High Court, sitting in Owerri, in the suit, PDP vs Chief Joseph Ugwulegbo and 63 others, challenging the 2020 Congress that produced the Engr. Charles Ugwu-led Executive.
The Supreme Court has upheld the 2020 ward, local government and state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State.
In a unanimous ruling today, April 11, the supreme court jurists agree with the PDP that the congresses followed laid down procedures.
A statement by PDP publicity secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, said the court ruling was a landmark
Recall that some members of the Party had approached the Imo State High Court, sitting in Owerri, in the suit, PDP vs Chief Joseph Ugwulegbo and 63 others, challenging the 2020 Congresses that produced Engr. Charles Ugwu led Executive.
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Imo PDP in its submission, through its counsel, Chief Ndukwe Nnawuchi SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the suit on the grounds that it was a pre-election matter since Congresses of political parties are domestic affairs of the Party and therefore not justiciable because Courts lack the powers to interfere with the internal affairs of political parties.
The Owerri High Court agreed with PDP and subsequently dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.
The Plaintiffs, led by Chief Ugwulegbo, however, headed to the Court of Appeal Owerri to challenge the ruling of the lower court.
The Court of Appeal, in its ruling, set aside the judgement of the lower court and ordered a retrial
Imo PDP thereafter approached the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the Appeal Court.
Delivering its judgement, read by Justice C. C. Nwaeze the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgement, agreed with the objection of the PDP and summarily set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal and upheld the Party Congresses of 2020 as credible.
The PDP says: “We wish to seize this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Apex Court for their industry in upholding the truth. This is indeed a victory for democracy.
“Our party is poised to reclaim our mandate. This judgement has laid to rest the issues against the conduct of our congresses.
“We, again call on aggrieved members of our party, especially the Plaintiffs to embrace the peace and cohesion in our party as we move to rescue and rebuild our State and Nigeria at large.”