The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, as party staff and management publicly rejected a Federal High Court ruling that set up a caretaker committee, insisting that the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) remains the party’s legitimate leadership.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, 76 senior staff members declared their full allegiance to the Turaki-led NWC, dismissing the court decision as inconsistent with the PDP constitution and established judicial precedents.
Among the signatories were the Acting Director of Administration, Gambo Isa Guade, and the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Institute, Dr Edward Ugbada, alongside other top-ranking officials within the party’s secretariat.
The staff maintained that the current NWC was duly elected at the PDP’s National Convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, arguing that the process complied fully with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral laws.
They noted that, under the PDP constitution, only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the authority to convene a National Convention, adding that this requirement was satisfied at the party’s 101st NEC meeting held in July.
According to the statement, the party also properly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the convention, further reinforcing the legality of the process that produced the current leadership.
The staff accused the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan of exceeding its jurisdiction by attempting to impose what they described as an “unauthorised leadership structure” on the party, in contradiction of Supreme Court rulings that affirm political party autonomy.
They expressed confidence in the appellate court, noting that the execution of the judgment has already been stayed, and described the development as a vindication of their position.
While urging party members and supporters to remain calm, the staff said the PDP would continue to pursue all lawful means to protect its internal democratic processes.
The unfolding dispute has renewed concerns about judicial interference in opposition party affairs, with the PDP calling on the National Judicial Council to caution judges whose actions, it alleged, risk undermining internal party democracy.