Dare Babalola
The lingering leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, with a faction of the party announcing that it has taken the dispute to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for final determination.
In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, a factional National Publicity Secretary aligned with the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki bloc, the group expressed concern over what it described as “disturbing developments” within the party over the past 48 hours, warning that the situation has raised serious questions about the future of the PDP and Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The faction reassured members and supporters that it had formally filed an appeal before the apex court, alongside other applications, seeking clarity on critical issues surrounding the party’s leadership crisis—particularly the legal boundaries of internal party affairs.
According to the statement, the faction is optimistic that the Supreme Court will expedite the hearing of the case and deliver a judgment that would safeguard democratic principles. It noted that all relevant parties had been duly served court processes and expressed confidence that the judiciary would act in the interest of justice.
A major point of contention highlighted in the statement was a recent gathering described by the faction as a “pre-Easter jamboree,” which it alleged was organized by sympathisers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The faction claimed the event, which was presented as a PDP convention, was conducted in violation of ongoing legal proceedings at the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.
The statement argued that parties involved in the appeal had already agreed on procedural steps before the court but allegedly proceeded with actions capable of undermining the subject matter of the litigation. It added that the validity of the convention is now one of the issues pending before the Supreme Court.
Further complicating the crisis, the faction disclosed that the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja had earlier on Monday delivered a judgment granting a rival group access to the PDP national secretariat. The ruling, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo Abdulmalik (as referenced in the statement), also directed security agencies to provide protection to the group while occupying the premises.
Reacting to the development, the Ememobong-led faction said it had immediately instructed its legal team to challenge the judgment at the appellate level, insisting that it had previously sought the judge’s recusal over alleged bias.
Describing the broader situation as “trying times” for the PDP and opposition politics in Nigeria, the faction accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of orchestrating the crisis. It alleged that the ruling party was attempting to weaken opposition platforms in a bid to establish a one-party state.
The statement further claimed that such actions were driven by fear of electoral backlash from Nigerians, citing concerns over security challenges, economic hardship, and social welfare issues under the current administration.
Despite the deepening internal divisions, the faction urged party members and the general public not to lose faith, expressing hope that the Supreme Court would ultimately intervene to preserve constitutional order and reinforce the principles of multi-party democracy.
“The apex court now has a historic opportunity to uphold and defend the Constitution… when it has its final say,” the statement concluded.
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has been embroiled in a protracted leadership struggle, with rival factions laying claim to its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections. The outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings is widely expected to shape the party’s future and its role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
