PDP Dismisses Court Verdict, Says Turaki-Led Leadership Still Valid

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has played down concerns over the judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC), Ibadan, delivered on Friday, insisting that the ruling poses no threat to the party’s current leadership structure.

Justice Uche Agomhoh had, in a judgment delivered on Friday, nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The court barred the Tanimu Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as “national officers” of the party.

The judge further ruled that the Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the “only recognised National Working Committee of the PDP” pending the conduct of a valid national convention.

However, in a statement issued shortly after the judgment, the party’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the court declined to grant the order of mandamus sought before it because doing so would amount to sitting on appeal over decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

The party disclosed that it has instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal and pursue all available legal options to protect its position.

“We have accordingly briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter,” the statement read.

Ememobong maintained that despite the judgment, the Kabiru Turaki–led leadership that emerged from the Ibadan convention remains valid and legally intact, pending a final determination by the appellate courts.

“Notwithstanding this judgment, the Kabiru Turaki–led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts,” he said.

The party also called on its members nationwide to remain calm and committed, assuring them that there is no cause for concern.