PDP Crisis: Makinde, Wike Allies Await Appeal Court Judgment Today

Leaders of opposing factions in the Peoples Democratic Party have expressed confidence ahead of the anticipated judgment by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, which is expected to address the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.

Both the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the group backed by several PDP governors insisted that legal precedents and statutory provisions support their positions.

The appellate court is expected to deliver judgment on Monday on a series of consolidated cases concerning the leadership of the party.

According to The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the appeal court had scheduled the consolidated suits for judgment.

Similarly, the spokesman for the caretaker committee backed by Wike, Jungudo Mohammed, also confirmed that the dispute would be decided by the appellate court sitting in Abuja.

Both sides, in separate interviews, expressed confidence that the judgment would favour them.

The dispute began after the November 15, 2025, convention in Ibadan, which produced Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.

The convention was endorsed by PDP governors, including Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed.

The governors also supervised the transition of leadership from former acting chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure expired on December 9.

However, a rival faction loyal to Wike constituted a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary with a 60-day mandate.

Efforts by both factions to hold meetings at the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza in Abuja, on November 18, 2025, resulted in chaos and physical altercations.

Following the incident, the Nigeria Police Force sealed the party secretariat, which has remained closed since then.

Both factions subsequently sought recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the electoral body declined to recognise either camp, leading to prolonged legal battles.

One of the consolidated suits before the appellate court is FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, which earlier halted the PDP convention pending compliance with provisions of the party constitution, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Electoral Act of Nigeria.

The suit was filed by three PDP members: Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.

Another case was instituted by former governor Sule Lamido, in which Justice Peter Lifu restrained INEC from supervising any PDP convention that excluded him as a contestant.

Additional cases, including one originating from the Oyo State High Court, are also challenging the legality of the Ibadan convention.

Speaking on the expected judgment, Mohammed said precedents set by the Supreme Court of Nigeria support the caretaker committee’s position.

“The provisions of the law and the precedents already established by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal give us strong confidence that the judgment will be in our favour,” he said.

He argued that the convention violated provisions of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution.

Responding, Ememobong said the Turaki-led National Working Committee had confidence in the judiciary and believed the court would uphold justice.

“Our optimism lies in the fact that we submitted ourselves to the jurisdiction of the courts and we believe in the judiciary in its complete sense,” he said.

He added that the party believes the law supports its position and expressed hope that the ruling would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system.

Meanwhile, the PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed, urged party members to remain calm ahead of the judgment.

In a statement issued by its Director-General, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, the forum reaffirmed the party’s commitment to respecting the judicial process.

The statement noted that the judiciary remains a critical institution in safeguarding democracy and urged party members to remain peaceful before, during and after the judgment.

Earlier, Lagos PDP governorship aspirant Funso Doherty urged the President of the Court of Appeal to expedite the ruling.

In a letter dated March 5, 2026, Doherty warned that uncertainty over the party’s leadership could affect preparations for the 2027 general election.

He noted that INEC had scheduled party primaries to begin on April 23, 2026, stressing that an early judgment would provide clarity for the party and other stakeholders.

According to him, the outcome of the appeal will significantly shape the PDP’s internal processes and determine the legitimacy of candidates presented to voters in the next election cycle.