PDP faction may contest Court of Appeal judgement recognising Wike-backed leadership

Taminu Turaki

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, has said its legal team is reviewing the Court of Appeal judgement affirming the Wike-backed faction as the party’s authentic leadership.

The faction said its lawyers would advise on whether to challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court after reviewing its legal implications. It, however, expressed optimism that it would eventually be recognised as the PDP’s authentic national leadership.

Mr Turaki disclosed this on Saturday when a delegation of governorship candidates who had obtained nomination and expression of interest forms from his faction paid a solidarity visit to its leaders in Abuja.

The candidates said the visit was aimed at encouraging the faction’s leadership to develop a strategic plan to sensitise and unite party members, particularly at the grassroots level.

The candidates were Sunday Biggs (Plateau), Ladi Hassan (Kwara), Joel Danlami (Taraba), Caleb Myebangara (Adamawa), Isah Muqaddam (Gombe), Lawal Umar (Kaduna), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kebbi), Yakubu Mu’azu (Jigawa) and Zanna Gaddama (Borno).

Mr Turaki told the delegation that the faction would meet with its legal team to consider its assessment of the judgement before deciding on the next course of action.

“I have listened to you carefully, and I want to inform you, and through you to inform Nigerians, that since our judgement last Wednesday, we’ve instructed our team of lawyers to study, say and advise us accordingly.

“And I can confirm to you that immediately after this meeting, we’re going to have a meeting with our legal team and they’re going to tell us the result of their assessment of the judgement of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgement delivered last Wednesday, upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court dismissing a suit challenging the leadership of the Wike-backed faction of the PDP, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The three-member panel was presided over by Ugochukwu Ogakwu, with Laja Balogun and Ruqayyat—Ayoola, who read the judgment.

The suit was instituted by the Board of Trustees (BoT) aligned with the Turaki faction. The board is chaired by Adolphus Wabara, a former Senate president.

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

The appellants had asked the court to set aside the Federal High Court judgment and compel INEC to recognise the Interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Mr Turaki.

They argued that the committee emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting convened after the Supreme Court judgment in April.

However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the position of the lower court in favour of the Wike-backed faction.

Mr Turaki told the governorship candidates that the faction would continue its efforts to take control of the party through constitutional and legal means.

He expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would rule in its favour, paving the way for its candidates to participate in the 2027 general elections.

He also predicted that the PDP would win the elections if the faction eventually secured recognition as the party’s authentic leadership.

“I want to assure your excellencies and indeed your other colleagues who are not here, and through you also, to assure other candidates, our other respective candidates, that there is indeed going to be a bright sunny day at the end of the tournament. This struggle will continue. We are hopeful that we will win, and that after winning, PDP candidates shall be on the ballot.

“And as soon as we are on the ballot, I want to assure you that Nigerians are waiting for us. We shall be winning the 2027 elections by the special grace of God. So on behalf of PDP, I want to thank you so very much for the continuous support, the solidarity that you’ve been giving to us,” he added.

Mr Turaki thanked the candidates for their support and advice, assuring them that the faction would continue to work with them and other party organs in accordance with the party’s constitution.

He accused unnamed forces of attempting to undermine the party, insisting that the faction would continue to resist efforts to place the PDP in bondage.

“Now, PDP has come to stay, and PDP will continue to fight to free itself from the shackles of bondage that some undemocratic forces and elements are trying to put us in,” he said.

He also urged the candidates to encourage their supporters to remain calm and hopeful despite the court’s decision.

“I pray that God will grant you a journey back home with mercy, and then try to talk to your people to remain calm. Let them remain calm. Fighting is not for those who are seeing victory in sight. So we should not fight.

“We should remain resolute. We should remain prepared, because even if it is a few days to the date of the election, and the shackles, the bondage of our party are freed, we will get to the polls. And by the special grace of God, we will emerge victorious,” he said.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the delegation, Mr Biggs, the PDP governorship candidate in Plateau State, said the visit was intended to demonstrate solidarity with the faction’s leadership and encourage it to pursue all available legal options.

“The visit was to interact with the INWC to show solidarity with them and to encourage them to undertake a strategic plan aimed at sensitising and unifying the party, especially at the grassroots level.

“Furthermore, to ensure that the appeal to the Supreme Court is pursued with urgency, competence and every necessary legal preparation,” he said.

Mr Biggs also urged the faction to explore reconciliation and constructive engagement with aggrieved members to resolve the party’s leadership crisis.

“We also want them to establish a broader platform for reconciliation and constructive engagement among aggrieved members. The national publicity secretary should ensure that effective communication with party members is regularly held to prevent misinformation, speculation and unnecessary anxiety.

“The party should develop a comprehensive political and organisational strategy to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.