PDP Crisis: Turaki Faction Heads To Supreme Court, Wike Pushes For Reconciliation

By ADEMU IDAKWO, OLAKUNLE OLASANMI, IGHO OYOYO, Abuja; AZA MSUE, Kaduna

The leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Monday as the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, rejected the judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld the nullification of the party’s 2025 National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, and announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

The development followed the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed the earlier judgement of the Federal High Court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the convention conducted between November 15 and 16, 2025.

The ruling has triggered fresh reactions within the opposition party, with leaders in the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside other stakeholders including a former presidential aspirant and a former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), calling for reconciliation and unity within the party.

In its judgement delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, the appellate court held that the PDP violated constitutional provisions required before such a convention could become valid.

The court ruled that no valid notice of the convention was served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.

It also held that valid congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states as required by law before the 2025 convention was organised.

Justice Onyemenam further held that the case instituted by aggrieved PDP members against the party was not about the internal affairs of the party as earlier argued, but an attempt to compel INEC to comply with its statutory functions in relation to party conventions.

Having failed to comply with the relevant laws, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court was right in assuming jurisdiction and granting an order restraining INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of the PDP’s 2025 national convention.

The court stressed that non-compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the party’s constitution and guidelines undermines democratic governance and that strict compliance must be enforced in the interest of democracy.

Earlier, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had, on October 31, 2025, restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention until all provisions of the law were complied with.

The judge based his decision on the grounds that the PDP failed to comply with the relevant legal conditions required for the conduct of such conventions.

Justice Omotosho held that evidence provided by the electoral umpire and some aggrieved PDP members showed that congresses were not conducted in some states of the federation in breach of the law.

The court also ruled that notices and correspondences issued by the party’s National Chairman without the endorsement of the National Secretary violated the law and consequently rendered such communications a nullity.

The judge further held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days’ notice of meetings and congresses required to enable INEC carry out its statutory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.

Justice Omotosho therefore restrained INEC from receiving, publishing or recognising the outcome of the convention slated for Ibadan until the party complied with the law.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 was instituted by three aggrieved members of the party: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).

The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joseph Daudu, had asked the court to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan, where new national officers were expected to be elected.

The nine defendants in the suit included the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Baturrle, National Organising Secretary; the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Reacting to the appellate court ruling, the Turaki-led faction of the PDP rejected the judgement and vowed to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued yesterday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the group said the legal battle over the party’s internal leadership dispute was far from over.

According to the statement, the faction had directed its legal team to urgently file an appeal before the apex court for a final determination of the dispute surrounding the convention.

The group also warned that the operationalisation of the judgement could impose “untold hardship” on party members nationwide, noting that consultations were ongoing with critical organs of the party on the next line of action.

It called on party members across the country to remain steadfast while expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would expeditiously resolve the matter in the interest of democracy.

“The battle to rescue our party from the hands of government agents masquerading as opposition leaders must be fought, and we are determined to do so and win,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged warring factions within the PDP to set aside their differences and work towards rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Wike described the appellate court ruling as an opportunity for reconciliation within the party.

“For me, it is an opportunity for everybody again to come back and see how we can salvage the party. The primaries will start from April. Now this is March.

“Leave your ego. Leave your personal interests. Come back and let us sit down to see how we can forge ahead,” he said.

Wike warned that rushing to the Supreme Court could further harm the party’s chances in the coming elections.

“If you say you want to go to the Supreme Court, mind you the primaries will be from April to May. By the time you go to the Supreme Court, you may merely be causing harm to your party which you say you love,” he cautioned.

He maintained that the court’s intervention became necessary because the party leadership had violated constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

Also reacting to the development, former presidential candidate Gbenga Hashim described the PDP crisis as a “family quarrel” that should now come to an end following the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

Hashim said leaders from the opposing factions had already agreed in principle to work towards unity through ongoing talks and negotiations.

“This is a family quarrel that must now end at the Appeal Court. Leaders on both sides have agreed in principle to unite and harmonise positions in all the talks and negotiations we have heard,” he said.

He expressed optimism that reconciliation efforts would succeed, noting that party members and many Nigerians are eager to see a united opposition.

Similarly, former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, warned the two factions of the PDP to put their house in order or risk losing political relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sani said the court had delivered justice in the matter and that it was now left for the party to resolve its internal crisis.

“The court exists to ensure justice, which is sine qua non for peaceful community living. That is precisely what the courts have done in the case of the PDP.

“It is now left for the PDP to put its house in order for the purpose of participating in the elections which will soon come. Otherwise, the party will have no moral basis to accuse the ruling party of pushing the country towards a one-party state,” he said.

It would be recalled that the PDP has in recent months been grappling with internal disagreements and legal battles among rival factions, a development that has become a major threat to the party’s survival ahead of the 2027 polls.