The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) board of trustees (BoT) led by Adolphus Wabara has rejected the Court of Appeal ruling nullifying the party’s national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo, where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emerged as national chairman.
The Wabara-led PDP BoT communicated its position in a
communiqué issued at the end of its expanded emergency meeting held in Abuja on
Wednesday.
In the judgment delivered on Monday, the Court of Appeal
upheld the ruling of a Federal High Court, which restrained the PDP from
conducting the national convention.
A three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed an
appeal filed by the Turaki faction challenging the jurisdiction of the Abuja Federal High Court to entertain the suit.
Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who delivered the lead judgement, held
that the PDP faction failed to serve the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) with a valid notice of the convention as required by the law.
Onyemenam ruled that the matter raised by those who filed
the suit at the high court should not be regarded as an internal affair of the
party, adding that the lower court was right in assuming jurisdiction and
granting an order restraining the INEC from accepting or recognising the
outcome of the national convention.
However, the Turaki PDP faction rejected the ruling,
directing its lawyers to immediately file an appeal against the judgement at
the supreme court.
In a statement by Ini Ememobong, its spokesperson, the
faction expressed hope that the apex court would “expeditiously settle this
matter in the interest of democracy.”
‘AWAITING ADVICE OF OUR LAWYERS ON WAY FORWARD’
Corroborating this position, the Wabara-led BoT made an
11-point resolution in which it rejected the appeal court judgement and asked
its lawyers for advice on the way forward.
“The BoT disagrees with the judgment of the Court of Appeal
which pronounced an invalidation of the November 15 to 16, 2025 national
convention that produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working
Committee of our party,” the communique reads.
“The BoT is awaiting the advice of our lawyers on the way
forward in this regard.
“The BoT is disturbed by the avoidable internal leadership
disputes and wranglings leading to damaging litigations with consequential
detrimental effect on the unity and smooth running of the PDP as the major
opposition party in the country.”
The board, however, resolved to explore the window provided
by the court of appeal, Ibadan division, for reconciliation within the party.
According to the communique, the PDP BoT said it is
conscious of the interest and aspirations of party members who, it said, are
desirous of contesting various positions in the 2027 elections.
“Conscious of the onus on the BoT as the conscience and
third-highest leadership organ of the party, the board is resolved to take
immediate steps to reconcile all stakeholders, put an end to all disputes and
restore the party to good political health, particularly to enable the PDP to
field candidates in the 2027 general elections,” the BoT added.
The BOT constituted a special committee to immediately
interface with the legal teams and other stakeholders to foster reconciliation
within the party.
It also acknowledged the support, loyalty and solidarity of
Nigerians towards the party, “as further evidenced in the ongoing nationwide
e-registration of members”.
The BoT said reports from the field indicate daily
registration of members “in their millions”, adding that “the unprecedented
surge” to the party, despite the challenges, underscores its popularity among
Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It called on all leaders and members of the party to
jettison personal and group interests and come together as one family in the
overall interest of the party and the wellbeing of millions of Nigerians whose
hopes are anchored on its platform.
The board further commended the efforts of Seyi Makinde,
governor of Oyo, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, “for their commitment
and steadfastness towards the party and the well-being of all Nigerians”.
“The BoT, pursuant to Section 32 of the Constitution of the
PDP (as amended in 2017), unanimously approved the appointment of Dr Muazu
Babangida Aliyu as the secretary of the board,” it said.
“The BoT urges Nigerians not to be dispirited but to remain
hopeful as the PDP works hard in repositioning itself for the task of salvaging
our nation from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
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