The Ekiti State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which reaffirmed constitutional order, internal democracy, and the supremacy of the rule of law within the party.

In a statement Thursday, signed by Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, Chairman of PDP in Ekiti state, the party congratulated Dr. Tanimu Turaki, SAN, members of the Interim National Working Committee, and the entire PDP family across the country on this significant legal victory, which has further strengthened the foundation of the party.

“The judgment clearly established that the purported caretaker committee lacked legal and constitutional backing, having no valid mandate from the party. The court also upheld the disciplinary measures taken against individuals found to have engaged in activities contrary to the interests and constitution of the PDP.

“The Ekiti PDP believes that the ruling has brought much-needed clarity to the leadership structure of the party and has opened a fresh window for reconciliation, unity, and collective commitment toward rebuilding and repositioning the PDP for future electoral successes.

“We therefore call on all faithful members, stakeholders, and supporters of the party to rally behind the Dr. Tanimu Turaki, SAN-led Interim National Working Committee and remain steadfast in their commitment to the ideals and vision of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The PDP remains Nigeria’s foremost democratic platform and the most credible alternative for delivering good governance, economic prosperity, and national development,” the PDP said

By Umar Sani

The Court of Appeal has delivered one of the most significant rulings in the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP, fundamentally changing the legal landscape that the factional struggle has depended on.

At the core of the appeal was the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which INEC relied on to extend recognition to the controversial Caretaker Committee linked to the Wike faction.

A thorough review of the Court of Appeal’s decision shows that the main issue before the Federal High Court was not the recognition of any caretaker committee. Instead, the substantive relief sought was an order of mandamus compelling INEC to recognize the outcome of the Ibadan National Convention.

However, before the appeal was decided, the Supreme Court ruled on the validity of the convention. Since the Supreme Court had already settled this matter, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyegbulam, concluded that the key issue had become purely academic. Jurisprudence teaches that courts do not spend time deciding hypothetical or resolved disputes. Once the Supreme Court decided on the convention, there was no longer a live dispute requiring resolution by the appellate court.

The Court of Appeal made an important observation. It noted that the trial court failed to properly address the real subject matter of the suit. Typically, such a failure could justify an order for a retrial. But because the substantive issue was already overtaken by the Supreme Court’s decision, the appellate court reasoned that a retrial would be unnecessary.

However, the most significant part of the judgment lies elsewhere.

The appellate court clearly stated that the recognition given to the Caretaker Committee was never an issue that was brought before the Federal High Court. In effect, the lower court ventured into grounds neither pleaded nor argued by the parties. According to established legal principles, such a decision cannot stand because courts must stick to issues properly brought before them.

This finding strikes at the very basis of the recognition granted to the Caretaker Committee.

The court also went further, affirming the suspension of A.K. Ajibade and ruling that he lacked the authority to act on behalf of the party. This significantly undermines the legal standing of actions taken by suspended party officials, including those associated with Sen Samuel Anyanwu and Umar Bature.

The practical effect of this ruling is profound. The Federal High Court decision relied upon by INEC to recognize the CTC has effectively lost its legal effect. More importantly, the Court of Appeal clarified that recognizing that committee was not even a matter arising from the litigation.

Therefore, the legal basis for INEC’s continued recognition of the CTC has been greatly weakened. If INEC faithfully follows the reasoning and implications of the appellate ruling, it will be forced to derecognize the CTC.

The sensible course of action is to recognize the properly formed Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

In conclusion, this ruling is not just a procedural victory for one faction. It reaffirms a fundamental legal principle: courts cannot grant reliefs that were never requested, nor can institutions rely on judicial decisions that have been invalidated or nullified. The Court of Appeal has spoken, and its judgment has dramatically reshaped the legal reality surrounding the PDP leadership dispute.

Umar Sani writes from Abuja.

Sarah Ojodomo Idoko, a final year  student of the Federal University Lokoja has been found dead along the Felele–Lokoja Road in Kogi State.

The body of the lady, a final year student, was reportedly found on Saturday night near the Crusher area along the busy Felele axis after she was allegedly dumped there by unknown assailants.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that a vehicle was seen stopping briefly near the location at about 8 p.m. before speeding away. Shortly afterwards, passers-by reportedly discovered the victim’s body by the roadside and alerted authorities.

Initial reports suggested that Sarah was a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, after an identity card bearing her name and academic details was recovered at the scene.

The card indicated that she was enrolled in the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in the Department of Office Technology Management for the 2024/2025 academic session.

However, the Kogi State Police Command later clarified that the deceased was actually a student of the Federal University Lokoja.