The Digest:
The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has announced it will appeal the Federal High Court ruling that nullified the party's November 2025 national convention and barred them from acting as its national officers. Addressing the press, Turaki stated his National Working Committee remains "legally intact and unshaken" pending the appellate court's decision, which he described as the necessary "authoritative pronouncement." He urged calm among party members, emphasizing that the "Rebirth movement" continues. Conversely, the rival faction aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whose appointed caretaker committee was recognized by the court, welcomed the judgment as a victory for the rule of law and called for party unity and reconciliation.
Key Points:
- The appeal ensures the PDP's protracted leadership crisis will extend further into the legal system, prolonging internal paralysis and uncertainty ahead of the 2027 elections.
- It represents a strategic legal counter-move by the Turaki faction to reclaim legitimacy, while the Wike-aligned camp seeks to consolidate its court-gained advantage.
- Turaki's faction fights to uphold the convention's validity and its own authority, while the Wike camp aims to entrench its caretaker committee as the party's sole legitimate leadership.
- The divergent reactions highlight the deep institutional schism within the PDP, where competing factions now rely on parallel judicial processes for validation.
- Announced immediately after the adverse ruling, the swift appeal demonstrates the faction's determination to contest the outcome and reflects the high-stakes nature of the control battle.
Sources: Leadership, Punch
