A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has condemned the decision of the Federal High Court which nullified the party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, describing it as an abuse of power and an act of judicial overreach.
In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Sani said the judgment delivered by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, raises serious legal and institutional concerns that extend beyond the internal affairs of the PDP.
According to him, the ruling has highlighted broader worries about the growing perception that the Federal High Court is increasingly susceptible to external influences.
Sani argued that the court exceeded its jurisdiction by addressing issues that were never presented before it.
He noted that when the suit was instituted and argued, the matter of constituting a National Caretaker Committee had not arisen.
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He maintained that the issue was neither contested by the parties nor included among the reliefs sought, stressing that by ruling on the legality of a caretaker committee that did not exist at the time, the court effectively granted reliefs that were not requested.
“The matter before the court was narrow and specific. The only relief sought was an order of mandamus compelling INEC to list the Turaki-led PDP on its portal,” Sani said.
Court Tempered with Party’s Internal Affairs
He explained that when the Anyanwu/Wike faction sought to be joined in the suit, their argument was limited to opposing the grant of the mandamus, without filing any counterclaims or seeking additional reliefs.
“There were no prayers before the court touching on internal party leadership or administration. Yet, the judgment went beyond the issue of mandamus and ventured into the internal affairs of the party,” he added.
Sani further described the suit as an abuse of court process, noting that the same applicants had earlier approached another Federal High Court presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, seeking similar reliefs.
He said that after an unfavourable outcome and the filing of an appeal, the applicants abandoned the appeal and approached another court of coordinate jurisdiction for the same reliefs.
“That practice is well settled in law. It amounts to inviting a court to sit on appeal over a court of equal jurisdiction, and such conduct ought to have been firmly rejected,” Sani stated.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
