The Management and Staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) have firmly reaffirmed their loyalty to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee (NWC), insisting that the party’s leadership elected at the Ibadan National Convention remains valid, lawful and operational.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday via the party’s official X handle, following the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on the leadership of the opposition party.
Reacting to the ruling, the PDP and PDI staff described themselves as “critical stakeholders of the Party” and declared their continued allegiance to the NWC that emerged from the party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16, 2025.
“That the entire Management and Staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reaffirm our recognition, loyalty and allegiance to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party which was duly and legally elected at the Party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15-16, 2025.”
They stressed that all resolutions reached at the Ibadan Convention remain binding, noting that the PDP exercised its constitutional right to manage its internal affairs without external interference.
“That we stand by the election of the National Working Committee and all other resolutions reached at the Ibadan National Convention as they are in the general interest of our party in the exercise of its supremacy over its internal affairs in line with the Constitution of the PDP and extant judgments of the Supreme Court.”
The staff further declared that no alternative leadership would be recognised at the party’s national secretariat.
“That the staff of the PDP, as custodians of the PDP Secretariat, will not align with or recognize any other unauthorised leadership apart from the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) because the leadership was validly elected at the National Convention sanctioned by all the legitimate organs of the Party.”
Citing several Supreme Court decisions, the statement maintained that leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters beyond judicial interference.
“That, it is already established in plethora of judgments of the Supreme Court that issues of membership, leadership, congresses and Conventions of a political party are entirely the internal affairs of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction to interfere or interrogate.”
On the legality of the convention, the PDP staff insisted there was no court order restraining the exercise and that all statutory requirements were met.
“That there was no legal encumbrance whatsoever against the conduct of the National Convention in Ibadan to elect new National Officers of our party, as it was legally convened by the National Executive Committee at its 101st meeting of July 24, 2025 pursuant to its powers under Section 31 (2) (a) of the PDP Constitution.”
They added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was duly notified in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
“That our Party fulfilled the statutory requirements of the law as stipulated in Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 by notifying INEC of the National Convention which was convened with them (INEC) in attendance.”
The statement also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling to reinforce the party’s position.
“On the just delivered Supreme Court Judgment in the case of INEC vs SDP & Ors, the Apex Court while admonishing INEC, reaffirmed its longstanding position that what is required of the Political Parties is to ‘Notify’ the Commission as required by law; and this our Party has done.”
Expressing concern over the Ibadan court ruling, the PDP staff described it as inconsistent with established judicial precedents.
“In the case of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, it is clearly inconsistent with the extant judgment of the Supreme Court on party’s internal affairs especially as the subject matter is before an appellate court on the ground of want of jurisdiction of the trial court.”
They further faulted Justice Uche Agomoh’s ruling, alleging that reliefs not sought were granted.
“It is equally surprising that Justice Uche Agomoh in her Judgment turned the law on its head by granting reliefs that were not sought against our Party to the extent that she attempted to create a Caretaker Committee with the intention to foist same on our party outside the limit of her jurisdictional power.”
According to the statement, the immediate past NWC no longer has any legal standing.
“As custodians of the National Secretariat of the PDP, we are very much aware that the immediate past NWC is ‘funtus officio’ since their tenure has ended by effluxion of time, and therefore, no member of that NWC can lay claim to any office under any guise whatsoever.”
The staff commended the party leadership for swiftly filing an appeal and a stay of execution.
“We commend the leadership of our Party for swiftly filing an appeal and Stay of Execution which puts the judgment by Justice Uche Agomoh in abeyance and retains the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee which was duly elected at the Ibadan Convention legally intact, valid and fully operational.”
They also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene.
“As critical stakeholders in the Democratic process, we urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) to caution judges who are complicit in delivering judgments or issuing orders that make them appear as willing tools in the hands of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to cripple opposition and destroy our hard-earned democracy.”
Warning of broader consequences, the statement noted: “The action of these judges of particular concern is eroding the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary.”
The PDP staff concluded by urging party members to remain steadfast ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We call on members of the PDP not to be fazed by the Judgment but remain resolute as our party takes firm steps to surmount all the huddles and reposition on the path of victory ahead of the 2027 general elections.”