Wike-Backed PDP Wins Party’s BoT Battle At Appeal Court

The Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, has secured a major legal victory after the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court over the party’s leadership tussle.

The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court, which dismissed a suit instituted by Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), and other founding members.

The appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1221/2026, was filed by Senator Wabara and seven others against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and six others.

The appellants had sought an order setting aside the Federal High Court judgment and compelling INEC to recognise the Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which they claimed emerged from a

National Executive Committee meeting convened after the Supreme Court judgment.

The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal was presided over by Justice Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu, with Justices Laja Balogun and Ruqayyat O. Ayoola, who read the judgment.

In its reaction, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction described the ruling as a major victory for the party, the rule of law and the supremacy of its constitution.

The faction, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the judgment further affirmed the legitimacy of the National Working Committee led by Mohammed as National Chairman and Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu as National Secretary.

It also called on party members, leaders and stakeholders to respect the court’s decision, close ranks and redirect their efforts towards rebuilding the party, strengthening internal cohesion and preparing for future political contests.

The faction said the judgment should put to rest lingering questions about the legitimacy of the party’s recognised leadership, insisting that the affairs of the PDP must be conducted in accordance with its constitution and established procedures.

However, the Wabara-led BoT and the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee said they would challenge the appellate court’s decision at the Supreme Court.

In a separate statement issued on Wednesday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the group respected the judgment but remained determined to pursue its case to the apex court.

Ememobong disclosed that the faction had instructed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court, expressing confidence that justice would eventually prevail.

He argued that the PDP, as an opposition party, must provide a credible alternative to the ruling party rather than become its appendage, warning that democracy could only thrive when opposition parties remained strong enough to hold the government accountable.

The faction also urged its members to remain resolute as it pursues the legal battle, describing the struggle as one with wider implications for multiparty democracy in Nigeria.