(DDM) – Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has placed its leadership organs on high alert ahead of a crucial judgment expected from the Court of Appeal that will determine the rightful leadership of the party.
The anticipated ruling comes amid a deepening internal crisis that has split the party into rival factions following its last National Convention held in Ibadan. The convention produced a new National Working Committee (NWC) led by Tanimu Turaki, a development that has since been challenged by another faction within the party.
Party insiders say the judgment is expected to clarify lingering legal disputes surrounding the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention and the leadership it produced. The decision could also determine the direction of the party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The faction opposing the Turaki-led leadership is believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Members of this group, reportedly led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu, have established their own caretaker structure and have even begun preparations for a separate national convention.
In response to the legal uncertainty, the Turaki-led leadership has scheduled a series of high-level meetings involving key party organs. These include gatherings of the National Caucus, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the National Executive Committee (NEC). Party sources say the meetings are part of broader preparations for political activities leading up to the next electoral cycle.
According to a senior party source, the leadership remains confident that the Ibadan convention that produced the current NWC was conducted in line with the law. The source noted that all required congresses were completed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was properly notified before the convention.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission was served with the required 21-day notice prior to the convention,” the source said, adding that the process followed established party procedures. The source also pointed out that the former acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, formally handed over leadership to the Turaki-led National Working Committee after the convention.
Party officials also argue that the PDP has deliberately refrained from holding certain statutory meetings while awaiting the court’s decision, emphasizing that the party remains committed to the rule of law.
Meanwhile, tensions within the party escalated further after the Turaki faction accused the rival camp of undermining the party while allegedly aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the faction aligned with Wike dismissed those claims and expressed confidence that the appellate court will rule in their favor. Reacting to the development, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the Wike faction, said the convention that produced Turaki violated existing legal provisions.
According to Mohammed, the convention allegedly proceeded despite a court order and without proper supervision from INEC. He argued that such an exercise could not produce a legally valid leadership structure.
“You cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand,” he said, insisting that the convention violated provisions of the Electoral Act as well as the PDP constitution.
He further dismissed the planned NEC meeting by the rival faction, describing it as inconsequential and urging PDP members to ignore the gathering.
The ongoing leadership dispute highlights the internal divisions within the PDP at a time when the opposition party is trying to reposition itself politically. Analysts say the outcome of the Court of Appeal judgment could significantly influence the party’s unity, organizational stability, and readiness for future elections.
For now, both factions remain locked in a political and legal battle that may shape the future leadership of one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition parties.
