PDP Faction To Appeal Court Judgment On Turaki Leadership Claim

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing its suit seeking the recognition of Kabiru Turaki as the party’s authentic national chairman.

The suit, filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT), which is aligned with the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC), was struck out on Friday by Justice Salim Ibrahim.

The court held that the dispute bordered on the internal leadership of the PDP and, therefore, fell outside its jurisdiction.

The ruling is a setback for the Turaki-led faction, which had earlier adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The PDP has remained divided into two factions, with the camp backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, currently recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reacting to the judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki faction, Ini Ememobong, said the group would immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

He said, “While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the appeal and apex courts, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein.

“The plaintiffs have accordingly briefed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and judgment. We are hopeful that as we climb the ladder of the law, the victory of truth over lies, principles over compromise, and the survival of true opposition and multi-party democracy will be assured.

“The politics of power, money and greed may last for a while, but we are certain that though our victory may be postponed, as the struggle continues, we will eventually attain it.”

Also reacting, Wabara rejected the judgment, arguing that the court exceeded the issues placed before it.

According to him, the court “went outside the issues before it to make pronouncements in favour of individuals that were not parties in the case.”

He maintained that the judgment was detrimental to both the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that it could not stand under the law.

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