Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over its internal stability following a split judgment by the Supreme Court that upheld the nullification of its Ibadan convention, warning that the development could steer the party into a “dangerous bend.”
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the party described the ruling as a critical turning point, noting that it leaves the PDP without a clearly defined leadership structure.
According to the statement, the apex court, in a 3–2 majority decision delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, affirmed earlier rulings of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, which invalidated the convention held in Ibadan.
The statement read: “Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, through a five-man panel presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba, in a split decision (3–2), upheld the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, wherein the convention held in Ibadan was nullified.”
The PDP explained that the majority decision, delivered by Justices Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Stephen Adah, and Mohammed Garba, was based on what the court described as disobedience to an existing court order.
The statement noted: “The three Justices (Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Stephen Adah, and Garba) hinged their judgments on the disrespect of a valid, subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court and therefore held that, being in contempt, the appellants cannot be accommodated in the apex court, thereby dismissing the appeal.”
However, the party pointed out that the minority judgment offered a different interpretation of the case, arguing that the matter falls within the internal affairs of the party and should not have been entertained by the courts.
It stated: “However, the minority judgments by Justices Haruna Tsammani and Abubakar Umar held that the two appeals emanate from matters which are internal affairs of the PDP and are therefore non-justiciable.”
The dissenting justices also faulted the majority for raising issues not originally argued by the parties.
The statement added: “Furthermore, they held that it is not the duty of the court to fish out matters to execute the case for the respondent, because the majority judgment undertook the duty of raising matters suo motu without calling on the parties to address them.”
Following the ruling, the PDP acknowledged that the decision—along with the Court of Appeal’s earlier suspension of key figures including Ajibade, SAN, and Anyanwu—has created a leadership vacuum within the party.
The statement declared: “With this split judgment, which also upheld the Court of Appeal’s suspension of Ajibade, SAN, Anyanwu, and others, this effectively leaves the PDP as a party without a defined leadership.”
Despite the uncertainty, the party expressed confidence that its internal structures would respond appropriately.
“To this end, we are certain that the existing organs of the party will take the necessary steps to salvage the party and confer leadership on it going forward.”
The PDP warned that the implications of the judgment could extend beyond the party, potentially affecting Nigeria’s democratic system.
It cautioned:
“This leads the vehicle of our party towards a dangerous bend, which, if not carefully navigated, may not only affect the party but also multi-party democracy in our country.”
The statement was signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for what was described as the “Uncompromised PDP.”