PDP Urges Courts to Steer Clear of Party’s Internal Affairs

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the judiciary to refrain from interfering in its internal matters, warning that such actions could create the impression that courts are engaging in partisan politics.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Arise Television, where he expressed concerns over what he described as growing judicial involvement in party affairs.

Ememobong said a recent court verdict reflected the judge’s wisdom, noting that the PDP constitution does not recognise a national caretaker arrangement.

“Well, this verdict only shows the wisdom that my lord used in arriving at that because I’m sure that my lord cannot point to the constitution of the party anywhere where there is a national caretaker,” he said.

While acknowledging his respect for the judiciary, Ememobong urged courts to avoid delving into internal party disputes to prevent perceptions of political bias.

“But again, I have tremendous respect for the court, which is why the court should stay away from the internal affairs of the party so that they don’t become politicians,” he stated.

He added that public confidence in the legal system could be undermined if there is a disconnect between perception and reality.

“You do know that perception and reality may have divergence, but when they converge to the extent that people lose faith in a process, then something is wrong,” he said.

Ememobong also referenced a reported courtesy visit by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, regarding accommodation for judges, stressing that such developments could raise public concerns about impartiality.

“We are not accusing them, but we are simply saying perception because it is a fundamental issue in law that justice must not just be done, but it must be seen to be done,” he added.