Court Only Nullified Ibadan Convention, Not PDP Leadership – Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has dismissed what she described as “propaganda” surrounding the recent Supreme Court judgment on the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that the ruling has been widely misinterpreted.

The senator’s clarification comes amid growing controversy and competing interpretations of the apex court’s decision by political stakeholders and commentators.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the Supreme Court judgment was limited in scope and did not resolve the broader leadership disputes within the opposition party.

According to her, the court only invalidated the PDP’s Ibadan convention, contrary to claims in some quarters suggesting that the ruling settled wider internal leadership issues.

She further clarified that matters relating to the suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and three others had already been resolved before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the Court of Appeal had earlier upheld a one-month suspension issued during the PDP’s 608th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on November 1, 2025, adding that the suspension expired on December 1, 2025, without being contested.

Following the expiration, she said the affected officials were subsequently appointed into a caretaker committee on December 8, 2025, which managed party affairs, including preparations for the March 2026 convention.

She also stated that both the convention and the current leadership structure are recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with details reflected on the commission’s official portal.

The senator called for calm within the party, urging members to avoid actions capable of deepening internal divisions and instead embrace dialogue and constitutional mechanisms for resolving disputes.

“I sincerely wish that all aggrieved members of our PDP family resolve matters amicably,” she said, while extending goodwill to other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed confidence that the PDP remains strong and capable of competing effectively in future elections, affirming that the party will field candidates in the next electoral cycle.

The Supreme Court judgment continues to generate mixed reactions within political and legal circles, underscoring lingering tensions in the PDP.