The Social Democratic Party has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to refrain from taking any action on the party’s leadership until the determination of an appeal arising from a recent Federal High Court judgment.
The party made the call in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, following a petition submitted to INEC on behalf of its expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, forwarding a Federal High Court judgment delivered on June 24.
Aiyenigba explained that the judgment is already being challenged at the Court of Appeal and should not be relied upon in matters relating to the party’s leadership.
“The SDP calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission to take note that the said judgment has been appealed against by the Social Democratic Party, and it is now pending before the Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
The party spokesman also argued that the Supreme Court had consistently held that courts lacked jurisdiction to determine the leadership of political parties.
