The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the orders issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja that had barred three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings or any related proceedings.
The chieftains in question are Uche Secondus, the former National Chairman of the party, Celestine Omehia, the removed Governor of Rivers State, and Austin Opara, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In three separate judgments, a panel of three judges at the Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the appeals filed by Secondus, Omehia, and Opara.
The Court of Appeal expressed the view that the issue of party members attending meetings and participating in party activities is a matter for the party to decide internally, and not for the court to intervene in.
The appellate court was of the opinion that the Federal High Court should not have entertained the cases related to internal party affairs, as it lacked jurisdiction over these matters.
As a result, the Court of Appeal declared the proceedings in the three cases before the Federal High Court null and void, including the restraining orders issued by Justice Ekwo on April 5.
