The management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) have rejected the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan on the party’s leadership, insisting that they remain loyal to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC).
In a statement posted on the PDP’s official Facebook page, the staff said they “reaffirm our recognition, loyalty and allegiance to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC)” elected at the party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15-16, 2025.
They added that they stand by “the election of the National Working Committee and all other resolutions reached at the Ibadan National Convention.”
They described these decisions as valid and consistent with the PDP Constitution and with Supreme Court judgments affirming party supremacy over internal affairs.
The statement emphasised that PDP staff, as custodians of the party’s Secretariat, would not recognise or align with any other unauthorised leadership outside the Turaki-led NWC, which they said was “validly elected at the National Convention sanctioned by all the legitimate organs of the Party.”
The party workers argued that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that matters relating to party leadership, congresses and conventions are internal issues beyond judicial interference.
They further stated that there was no legal impediment to the Ibadan convention, noting that it was convened by the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 101st meeting on July 24, 2025, in accordance with Section 31(2)(a) of the PDP Constitution.
According to the statement, the PDP complied with Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 by notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with INEC officials in attendance at the convention.
It cited the Supreme Court judgment in INEC vs SDP & Ors, which reaffirmed that parties are only required to notify the electoral body.
The staff described the Ibadan Federal High Court judgment as plainly at odds with extant Supreme Court authority, adding that the matter is already before an appellate court on jurisdictional grounds.
They also expressed concern that Justice Uche Agomoh accused the party of disobeying a court order, despite being informed of an Oyo State High Court ruling directing the party to hold the convention.
The statement further criticised the judge for granting “reliefs that were not sought” and for seeking to impose a caretaker committee, which they said has no foundation in the PDP Constitution.
The staff said the immediate past NWC is now “functus officio” because its tenure has lapsed. They commended the party leadership for filing an appeal and a stay of execution, which they said has kept the Turaki-led NWC “legally intact, valid and fully operational.”
They urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to caution judges whose actions, they claimed, make them appear as “willing tools in the hands of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to cripple opposition.”
The statement concluded by calling on PDP members not to be fazed by the judgment, but to remain steadfast as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
