Supporters of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have expressed confidence ahead of today’s Court of Appeal judgment on the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party.
Spokesmen for both factions confirmed that the appellate court in Abuja scheduled judgment on the consolidated suits challenging the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership structure.
The camp backed by PDP governors supports the National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which emerged from the party’s convention in Ibadan on November 15 and was endorsed for a four-year tenure. The governors also supervised the leadership transition from former acting chairman Umar Damagum before his tenure ended in December.
However, a rival faction loyal to Wike constituted a 13-member caretaker committee in December, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary to oversee the party’s affairs for 60 days.
The crisis escalated after both groups attempted to hold meetings at the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in November 2025, leading to clashes and forcing the police to seal the complex.
Both camps subsequently sought recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission, but the electoral body declined to recognise either faction, prompting a series of legal battles now consolidated before the Court of Appeal.
Ahead of the ruling, both sides insisted that legal precedents and constitutional provisions support their positions, expressing optimism that the judgment would validate their claims to the party’s leadership.
