As the Court of Appeal prepares to deliver judgment on the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rival factions aligned with party governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, have expressed confidence that the ruling will favour their respective positions.
The National Publicity Secretary of the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki and backed by Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the appellate court scheduled judgment in the consolidated suits for Monday.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu, and backed by Wike, Jungudo Mohammed, also confirmed the judgment date, expressing optimism that the ruling would support their claim to leadership.
The dispute stems from conflicting claims over the party’s leadership following the November 15, 2025, Ibadan convention that produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee. While party governors endorsed the convention and supervised the transition from former acting chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki, the Wike-aligned faction constituted a 13-member caretaker committee in December, appointing Abdulrahman as acting national chairman and Anyanwu as acting national secretary.
Attempts by both factions to hold meetings at the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, descended into chaos, prompting the Nigeria Police Force to seal the secretariat, which remains closed. Subsequent efforts to gain recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were unsuccessful, leading to a series of legal battles.
Among the consolidated suits is FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, filed by aggrieved PDP members challenging the legality of the party convention, and a suit by former governor Sule Lamido, which sought INEC intervention to ensure inclusive participation. Other cases concern the secretariat closure and disputes originating from state courts.
Speaking on expectations, Mohammed of the Wike-aligned faction cited Supreme Court precedents supporting judicial oversight of party affairs and expressed confidence in a favourable ruling. “Not only were the Electoral Act, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the party constitution violated, but there was also disobedience to existing court judgments,” he said.
Ememobong of the Turaki-led faction stressed faith in the judiciary and said the leadership would carefully assess the ruling before deciding on next steps if the judgment did not favour them.
Meanwhile, the PDP Governors Forum called for calm, urging members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while affirming confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality.
Lagos State governorship aspirant Funso Doherty also appealed for an expedited ruling, noting that clarity on party leadership is crucial for preparations ahead of party primaries scheduled by INEC to commence April 23, 2026.
The appellate decision, expected on Monday, will be a pivotal moment for the PDP as it seeks to resolve internal leadership disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.