Turaki-led PDP to Appeal Judgment Dismissing Leadership Recognition Suit

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will appeal the judgment striking out the suit seeking to recognise Kabiru Turaki as the authentic national chairman of the party.

On Friday, the federal high court in Abuja dismissed the suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led board of trustees (BoT), which is backed by the Turaki-led interim national working committee (NWC).

The ruling, which was delivered by Salim Ibrahim, the presiding judge, is a setback for the Turaki-led faction, which picked former President Goodluck Jonathan as its standard-bearer for the 2027 elections.

The PDP is polarised into two factions. The group backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is recognised by the electoral umpire.

The court held that the suit, which concerns the leadership of the PDP, is an internal party affair over which it has no jurisdiction.

‘WE’RE HOPEFUL OF VICTORY’

In a statement, Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the Turaki faction, said the verdict will be challenged at the appeal court.

“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 statement reads.

“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.”

In a separate statement, Wabara rejected the judgment, saying the court went “outside the issues before it to make pronouncements in favour of individuals that were not parties in the case”.

Wabara added that the judgment is against the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy and cannot stand in the face of the law.