Judgment day for PDP
Torn apart by internal crises of varying dimensions, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has arrived on the edge. Today, the Court of Appeal will deliver judgment on the court cases
- Appeal Court judgment today in nine consolidated cases on crises
- Chieftain in fresh move to save party
Torn apart by internal crises of varying dimensions, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has arrived on the edge.
Today, the Court of Appeal will deliver judgment on the court cases over the party’s leadership tussle.
Two of the key cases were instituted by factions led by the National Chairman, Taminu Turaki, and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The appellate court consolidated nine suits arising from the dispute and constituted a three-member panel to hear the appeals.
The panel, which concluded its hearing on February 12, reserved judgment and is expected to deliver its decision today.
At the centre of the dispute is the question of which faction constitutes the legitimate leadership and therefore has the authority to nominate candidates for next year’s elections.
The court’s decision is widely seen as one that could either stabilise or further fracture the opposition party.
Although the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court remains open, time may not favour the former ruling party as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed April 23 to May 30 as the period for political parties to conduct their primaries ahead of the elections.
A source close to the Turaki-led factional National Working Committee (NWC) confirmed last night that the appellate court had issued notice that judgment would be delivered today.
The appeals are principally against decisions delivered by Justices James Omotosho, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In separate judgments, Justices Omotosho and Lifu restrained the PDP from holding the November 15 and 16, 2025 national convention from which Turaki emerged as national chairman.
The suit before Justice Omotosho, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by three aggrieved members of the party: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, SouthSouth).
The defendants in the suit were INEC, the PDP, its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
In his judgment delivered on October 31, 2025, Justice Omotosho restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the convention planned for Ibadan, Oyo State.
The judge held that the PDP failed to comply with relevant provisions of its constitution and applicable laws stipulating the procedures required before convening such a national convention.
Justice Omotosho also found that evidence presented by INEC and some respondents showed that congresses were not conducted in some states of the federation as required by law.
He further ruled that the signing of party notices and correspondence by the National Chairman without the counter-signature of the National Secretary violated the PDP constitution and rendered such notices invalid.
The judge also noted that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC for meetings and congresses, thereby preventing the electoral body from performing its statutory duty of monitoring such activities.
Read Also: Ibadan convention: Appeal Court decides PDP’s fate Monday
He warned that the party’s failure to comply with these legal requirements had jeopardised the planned convention and advised the PDP to put its house in order before proceeding with the exercise.
Justice Lifu’s judgment of November 14, 2025 arose from a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
Lamido had sought an order stopping the convention on the grounds that he was denied the opportunity to contest for the position of national chairman.
The court upheld his claim and ordered the PDP to resolve the issues within the party before proceeding with the convention.
For more than a year, the PDP has been embroiled in litigation over the composition of its National Working Committee (NWC) in line with the party’s constitution.
At the early stage of the crisis, the party was divided over whether Senator Samuel Anyanwu should return to his position as National Secretary after his unsuccessful governorship bid in Imo State.
The matter was eventually resolved in Anyanwu’s favour after a court found no evidence that he had resigned his position before contesting the election.
However, the ruling did little to resolve the broader internal dispute as the party subsequently split into two major camps.
The Turaki faction includes Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), as well as Chief Bode George, Emma Ogidi, Nene Ukeje, Eddy Olafeso, Senator Duro Faseyi, Taofeek Arapaja, Ibrahim Shekarau and other prominent members of the party’s Board of Trustees.
On the other side are members of the camp loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Anyanwu.
The group includes former governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), alongside Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, George Turner and Chief Dan Orbih.
The crisis deepened over the issuance of notice for a National Executive Committee meeting and preparations for the national convention.
Although the notice was signed by then National Chairman Umar Damagum, it became contentious because it was not co-signed by the National Secretary, Anyanwu, as required by the party’s constitution.
Olawepo-Hashim’s peace initiative
As the crisis intensified, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, proposed the establishment of a national caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs until the dispute was resolved.
However, the Turaki faction rejected the proposal.
Ahead of the controversial convention held at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, courts of coordinate jurisdiction issued conflicting injunctions and counter-injunctions.
Relying on an ex parte order obtained from an Ibadan High Court, the Turaki faction proceeded to hold the disputed convention.
At the convention, prominent members of the Wike/Anyanwu faction, including the former Rivers State governor, Anyanwu, Fayose, Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi, were expelled from the party.
The development triggered tension at the convention venue as Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa State) dissociated themselves from the decision.
The rivalry later shifted to Wadata House, the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where both factions struggled for control of the premises.
The confrontation eventually degenerated into violence, forcing the police to seal the building to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
As the crisis escalated, several PDP stalwarts, including Governors Mutfwang, Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Fintiri, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
More members subsequently abandoned the party after INEC declined to recognise either faction as the legitimate leadership.
Last week, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal hinted that he would wait for the appellate court’s judgment before deciding his political future.
Efforts by the Turaki-led NWC to secure judicial recognition of their election through the Federal High Court in Ibadan also failed.
Justice Uche Agomoh declined the request, holding that the group could not disobey the earlier judgments of two Federal High Court judges restraining the convention and then approach another court for validation of the same convention.
Justice Agomoh subsequently barred Turaki and his associates from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
The Turaki faction filed an appeal against the decision, which forms part of the cases scheduled for judgment today.
PDP governors urge calm
PDP governors have urged party members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting the judgment.
Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, said the party remains confident in the ability of the appellate court to deliver justice.
In a statement issued ahead of the ruling, Agbo described the PDP as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy and called on members to respond to the court’s decision with maturity and respect for the rule of law.
“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum under the chairmanship of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State addresses party members and faithful as Nigeria awaits the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Monday, March 9, 2026, on the leadership crisis within the PDP,” the statement said.
“We stand at a defining moment for our democracy. The judiciary, as the custodian of justice, carries the weight of ensuring fairness, impartiality and the preservation of national stability.
“Whatever the decision may be, the PDP reaffirms its respect for the judicial process and its commitment to peace.”
“Our party has always been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democratic journey. We urge our members, supporters and indeed all Nigerians to remain calm and disciplined in their reactions to the ruling.
“Our collective response must reflect maturity and deep respect for the rule of law.
“Party leadership will meet immediately after the judgment to review the decision and chart the necessary post-judgment course of action,” the statement added.
