PDP factions clash over Oyo court judgment

2026-02-27 - 16:47

By Luminous Jannamike Fresh cracks have surfaced within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after rival camps offered sharply different interpretations of a High Court ruling in Oyo State on the party’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan. At the centre of the dispute is a critical question: whether the judgment compels the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the outcome of the convention, an issue that could shape the party’s leadership structure ahead of the 2027 elections. The opposing positions were contained in separate statements signed by Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the Nyesom Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), and Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP. The NCWC dismissed the ruling, insisting it has no binding effect on INEC because the electoral body was not a party to the suit and had earlier been struck out of the case. “For the avoidance of doubt, the said judgment does not bind Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as INEC was neither joined nor represented as a party in the suit. “A judgement that does not bind INEC is of no consequence whatsoever as far as the issues at stake is concerned,” the statement added. It maintained that the ruling has no legal effect on the conduct, monitoring or recognition of any party convention purportedly held on November 15 and 16, 2025. The NCWC also said INEC had already complied with two subsisting judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining it from attending or recognising the convention, as well as a Federal High Court judgment in Ibadan which nullified the exercise and restrained Kabiru Turaki and his associates from parading themselves as party leaders. Despite the ongoing dispute, the committee assured members that preparations for fresh congresses and a national convention were already at an advanced stage. “The party remains committed to legality, due process, rule of law and entrenchment of internal democracy,” Mohammed stated. However, the Turaki-led PDP leadership welcomed the Oyo High Court judgment, saying it affirmed the legality of the Ibadan convention and directed INEC to recognise its outcomes. “The court granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant... declaring the National Convention held in Ibadan as properly conducted and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and give full effect to all decisions and outcomes reached at the said convention,” Ememobong said. The party explained that the suit, filed by Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, on behalf of Folahan Malomo Adelabi, was intended to protect the claimant’s constitutional right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. It added that the court had earlier granted orders on November 3 and November 14, 2025, which formed the legal basis for the convention held on November 15 and 16. “The party welcomes this judgment as a vindication of both fact and law. “The party remains committed to pursuing all legitimate legal avenues to ensure that justice is fully served, and we are confident that the appellate courts will, in like manner, uphold the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” Ememobong added. The sharply conflicting positions over the same court ruling highlight the deepening leadership crisis within the opposition party, with the final outcome now likely to be settled at the appellate level.