Appeal Court verdict deepens PDP crisis as rival camps set separate BoT meetings

2026-03-10 - 18:37

The opposition party now faces one of its toughest internal tests By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — Fresh cracks have opened within the Peoples Democratic Party after party leaders met in Abuja on Tuesday to decide what to do next following a Court of Appeal ruling that nullified the party’s 2025 national convention. The judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the cancellation of the PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, has forced the party into urgent talks about its future. But the implications of the ruling may go further, as a rival faction has already rejected the Abuja meeting and announced its own Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting for Wednesday. At the expanded BoT meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s factional BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara; factional National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who spoke for PDP governors, addressed party leaders on the court ruling and what it means for the party. “We need to find a solution. We need to talk to the judgment. In fact, the Board considers the judgment an order for the party to begin again. We respect the law. So this is an opportunity for us to begin again. And that’s why we are all here. “When Iyom Josephine Anenih prayed for us, she said we should just forget about our personal interests and think about the party,” Wabara said. He also reflected on the legacy of the late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, one of the founding figures of the party. “Before I came in here this afternoon, I, as an Igbo man, I made contacts with the father of this party, who is late, Alex Ekwueme and he said he’s very proud of what we are doing and that we should continue to fight. “It’s not a day of speech making. It’s a day that we have to be very serious with the decisions we are going to arrive at as we’ve always done with the Board. “We obey the Constitution. We must work in accordance with the Constitution. And you can never go wrong if you abide by the Constitution and the rule of law. “We should be very brief with our thoughts. And after this meeting, the Board will meet, maybe tomorrow. Otherwise, once we get the briefing of this expanded process meeting, the Board will meet to take its decision,” the former Senate President added. Wabara also called on party members to remain open-minded as they search for a way forward. “The whole idea is to edge us out, but we will find our way if we have an open mind. We should, in these meetings, keep an open mind and see how we can get ourselves back on track. “Having said so, I welcome you all to this meeting and I hope and pray that we rise from here with a communique that will satisfy Nigerians and will speak to the minds of those who are fighting us, to take prisoners from us because no man is God.” Turaki, in his remarks, said the developments within the party had raised concerns beyond PDP members. “Nigerians, not only members, not only current members of PDP, are worried with what is happening in our polity today, especially as a result of what is happening to our dear party. “In the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday, it becomes imperative that our leaders must sit down and then consider the situation on ground and then come up with workable and implementable options that will save this party and indeed save Nigeria’s democracy. “I want to thank especially the Chairman, State’s Chairman of our parties, who, in spite of what is happening today, have ensured that the processes of e-registration is going on unhindered, without any hitch in their respective states, local governments, and wards. “I want to thank the last man standing, our two indefatigable governors, for what they’ve been doing to us. I want to place it on record again that every little success that has been achieved by us is because of their uncommon support. They are there in the morning, they are there in the afternoon, they are there in the evening, they are there in the night, they are even there in the middle of the night,” Turaki said. Speaking for the governors, Makinde said the party was going through a difficult moment. “It’s a challenging period for us as leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party. It’s also a challenging period for democracy in Nigeria. I’ve been talking to people of knowledge, people who have been involved in the political evolution of this country. And none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today. “So whatever role we want to play as individuals and collectively as a party, we must be conscious of what history is going to record against or for us for this period,” the governor said. Makinde also expressed hope that the situation would eventually pass. “This period will also go away. It will pass away. Weeping may endure for the night, but in the morning, joy cometh,” he said, quoting scripture. But even as leaders met, signs of a deeper split emerged. Meanwhile, a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike dismissed the meeting and announced its own BoT meeting. In a notice signed by former senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the faction invited members of the BoT to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, at 2 p.m. at 1 Sabo Ago Street, LifeCamp, Abuja. “This serves to formally invite all members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 2pm,” the notice read. The notice stated that the BoT was recognised by the Abdulrahman/Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee following a Federal High Court decision and its affirmation by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. “Kindly ignore any other notice purporting to call for a meeting of the BoT.” Ohuabunwa also said only accredited BoT members would be allowed into the meeting venue, warning non-members to stay away. For now, all eyes remain on the party’s next move.