Supreme Court ruling leaves PDP leadership in flux

…As BoT takes over leadership
…Wike insists PDP leadership remains intact

The Supreme Court judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened the party’s crisis, with rival factions offering conflicting interpretations of the ruling.

In a split judgment on Thursday, the apex court nullified the party’s controversial 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, and set off a scramble for control of the opposition party.

In a lead judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the party, affirming earlier decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had restrained the conduct of the convention.

The court ruled by a 3–2 majority, holding that the Ibadan convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, was conducted in violation of a subsisting court order.

Justice Adah said the appellants acted in disregard of judicial authority, stressing that “the disobedience of the court order is not disputed,” adding that the conduct amounted to “a threat to the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

Read also: BoT takes over PDP after Supreme Court nullifies party leadership

The apex court consequently dismissed the appeal and cross-appeals, ordering parties to bear their costs.

The dispute stemmed from internal disagreements within the PDP over congresses conducted in several states and the exclusion of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido from the contest for the party’s national chairmanship. Lamido had challenged the process, arguing that he was denied access to nomination forms in breach of internal democracy principles.

The legal battle escalated after the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the party from proceeding with the convention, a decision later affirmed by the Court of Appeal in its March 9 judgment.

Despite the order, the convention went ahead in Ibadan, producing a factional leadership structure led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which immediately triggered further litigation and deepened divisions within the party.

BoT takes over leadership

In a swift reaction to the judgment, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP announced that it was assuming interim leadership of the party to prevent a vacuum at the national level.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT said “it is with the utmost sense of duty and responsibility that the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumes leadership of our great party today, Thursday, 30th April, 2026 pursuant to the empowering provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017).”

Read also: PDP convention crisis splits Supreme Court justices, apex court voids Ibadan congress

The BoT described the Supreme Court judgment as “an unpleasant judgment” and said it invalidated the Ibadan convention as well as the leadership that emerged from it.

“Sadly, the Supreme Court, today delivered an unpleasant judgment against our party in which it pronounced an invalidation of the 15th to 16th November 2025 National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of our Party,” it said.

The BoT also stated that the court upheld the suspension of key party officials including Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, adding that this development further complicated the party’s leadership structure.

According to the statement, “The implication of today’s judgment by the Supreme Court is that all actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade… are illegal, null and ab initio void.”

It added that the invalidation of rival leadership structures necessitated the BoT’s intervention.

“Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP… to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilize and return the party to good political health.”

The BoT also announced plans for an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim National Working Committee.

Wike insists PDP leadership remains intact

However, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory and factional national leader of the party, dismissed suggestions that the Supreme Court judgment had destabilised the party or created a leadership vacuum.

Speaking during a media interview, Wike insisted that the PDP remained united and that the convention outcome should not be disregarded.

“Assuming, though not conceding, that… they were suspended… our convention has been held, and the convention… we have brought them back, it’s the party,” he said.

He argued that any prior disciplinary issues had been resolved by the party itself through participation in the convention.

“Okay, let’s say that they were suspended, however, for the party to have allowed them to contest the National Convention means that the party has lifted their suspension,” Wike stated. “So you don’t need to bother yourself.”

Read also: PDP crisis deepens as Supreme Court nullifies Turaki- led Convention

Wike also dismissed claims that the courts had validated the suspensions of certain party officials, insisting that internal party processes were misinterpreted.

“You and I know it’s not correct… the court said, look, you cannot stop them from sitting to carry out their duties as given to them by the National Committee of the party,” he said.

According to him, disciplinary recommendations within the party were never properly ratified.

“The committee… recommended for their suspension, but not to confirm or to ratify the so-called suspension. So, there was nothing like that,” he added.

He maintained that once affected members were allowed to participate in the convention, the issue of suspension became irrelevant.

Wike also accused opposing factions of engaging in anti-party activities by challenging internal decisions in court and participating in external political alignments without authorisation.

The Supreme Court ruling has now left the PDP’s leadership structure in flux, with the BoT stepping in to manage affairs while competing interpretations of the judgment continue to emerge.

While the BoT insists the party must “jettison all personal and group interests” to restore stability, Wike maintains that the party’s existing structure remains valid.