The suspended Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has filed a notice of appeal before the Supreme Court asking it to declare that only he had the legal right to preside over the last national convention.
Secondus is also seeking an order declaring that his suspension at the ward level was not enough reason for him to vacate the office of the national chairman of the PDP.
According to the appeal filed by his lawyer, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), there are three grounds for appeal.
Secondus said Section 222(c) of the Nigerian Constitution required every political party to have a constitution, which shall be registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to him, Article 35(1) (b) of the PDP’s Constitution confers on the national chairman of the party the right to preside over the national convention, but the appellate court gave the party the right to hold the convention without him.
The embattled chairman also argued that the fact that he was suspended at his ward did not translate to him being suspended as the chairman of the PDP.
The notice of appeal read in part, “The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held that the appellant had no legal right or interest to protect by his application, which was filed on October 14, 2021, and re-filed on October 27, 2021.
“The Court of Appeal erred in law and violated the appellant’s right to fair hearing when it held that the appellant, having been suspended as a member of the 6th respondent (the PDP), could not continue to function as the national chairman.
“The Court of Appeal erred in law in dismissing the appellant’s application, which was filed on October 14, 2021 and re-filed on October 27, 2021.”