Appeal Court Supports Lamido in PDP Convention Dispute

The Appeal Court in Abuja has affirmed a judgment from the Federal High Court that restrains the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its national convention on November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, without allowing former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to participate as a chairmanship aspirant. The unanimous decision by the three-member panel, led by Justice Peter Lifu, upheld the November 14 ruling that directed the PDP to provide Lamido the opportunity to contest for the party's chairmanship.

The Appeal Court noted that the PDP's decision to conduct the convention despite the existing court order constituted contempt and a disregard for the authority of the court. The court rejected the PDP's argument that the convention complied with the judgment, emphasizing that the proper procedure for the party would have been to seek a stay of execution or file an appeal against the decision.

Consequently, the court dismissed the PDP's appeal, marking it as lacking merit, and awarded N2 million in costs against the party.