The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assumed control of the party’s national leadership following a Supreme Court judgment that invalidated its recent convention and key leadership structures.
In a statement issued on Thursday, BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said the move was necessary to prevent a leadership vacuum after the apex court nullified the party’s November 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convention had produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), which has now been voided by the court.
The Supreme Court also upheld the suspension of key party officials, including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade.
According to the BoT, the implication of the judgment is that all actions taken by the affected officials—including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, the formation of a caretaker committee, and the conduct of the March 29, 2026 convention in Abuja—are null and void.
Wabara said the development effectively dissolves both the Turaki-led and Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership structures, placing the responsibility of steering the party on the BoT as the second highest organ of the PDP, in line with Section 32(5) of the party’s constitution.
“It is with a strong sense of duty that the Board of Trustees assumes leadership of the party to avert a vacuum and stabilise its operations,” the statement said.
The BoT said it would immediately initiate steps to restore order, including convening an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim National Working Committee.
The interim body, it said, would oversee the party’s affairs and ensure compliance with timelines set out in the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The board also directed all PDP staff to resume duties at the national secretariat under its leadership pending the appointment of the interim leadership.
While acknowledging the internal crisis, the BoT commended party leaders, including Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, as well as other organs of the party, for their resilience.
It called on members to set aside differences and work towards reconciliation, warning that continued division could weaken the party’s chances in future elections.
“The PDP has suffered enough. This is the time for sacrifice, unity, and a fresh commitment to rebuilding the party in the interest of democracy and Nigerians,” the statement added.
The development marks a new phase in the PDP’s prolonged leadership crisis, with the BoT now stepping in as a stabilising authority pending further decisions by the party’s highest organs.