By Achile Danjuma
A fresh twist has emerged in the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, has rejected a recent Court of Appeal judgment and declared its intention to head to the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued on Monday, the faction announced it would immediately challenge the appellate court’s decision, which upheld the nullification of the party’s national convention in Ibadan and the suspension of several national officers.
“We are far from done,” the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said in the release. “Our legal team has been directed to urgently file an appeal before the Supreme Court for a final and conclusive determination of this dispute.”
The Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Mohammed Ambi-Usi Danjuma, had upheld earlier rulings by the Federal High Court that voided the PDP Ibadan convention. The panel also affirmed the suspension of key party officials, including former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, aligning with previous judgments delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Additionally, the court dismissed a separate appeal challenging interlocutory orders issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo Abdulmalik.
Despite this legal setback, the Turaki-led group warned that the immediate implementation of the judgment could inflict “untold hardship” on PDP members nationwide. The statement noted that the faction is currently consulting with key party organs to determine their next course of action while simultaneously pursuing the appeal.
“The battle to rescue our party from the hands of government agents masquerading as opposition leaders must be fought, and we are determined to do so and win,” the statement added, reflecting the faction’s combative stance.
However, the group called for calm among its supporters, urging party members to remain steadfast and expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would resolve the matter expeditiously in the interest of democracy.
This latest legal move adds another layer of complexity to the intense power struggle within Nigeria’s main opposition party. The PDP has been embroiled in a prolonged internal conflict, with rival blocs—including a powerful faction loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike—locked in a fierce battle for control of the party’s leadership and direction.