By Peter Adelowo
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the Federal High Court in Abuja following the dismissal of its suit challenging the police blockade of the party’s national secretariat.
In a statement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, says the party was disturbed that the court dismissed the case despite the PDP formally withdrawing it in line with the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
The party explained that it had earlier expressed lack of confidence in the impartiality of some judges of the Federal High Court and had requested the presiding judge to recuse herself from the matter, a request which it said was not properly addressed.
According to the PDP, it subsequently filed a notice of discontinuance within the timeframe allowed by law, but the court went ahead to dismiss the suit instead of striking it out, a move the party described as deepening its concerns about judicial fairness.
The PDP recalled the warning of late Justice Niki Tobi that judges must maintain a clear separation from politics in order to preserve public confidence in the judiciary.
The suit followed a leadership crisis within the party, with rival factions laying claim to the PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, leading to violent clashes and the sealing of the premises by the police.
The Turaki-led National Working Committee had approached the court seeking an order directing the police to vacate the secretariat and allow it assume control of party affairs.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the suit after ruling that issues had already been joined, despite the plaintiffs’ request to discontinue the matter.
