PDP faction vows to fight on after court setback, eyes Supreme Court

The interim leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki says it will not give up after a Court of Appeal judgment went against it, and is preparing to take its case to the Supreme Court.

Turaki spoke in Abuja on Saturday while receiving governorship candidates from across the country who came to pledge support for his faction.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had on Wednesday upheld earlier Federal High Court judgments that de-recognised the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC), according to Tribune. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not recognise the INWC either.

INEC recognises a rival National Working Committee chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which Tribune reported is backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The Turaki faction currently has no candidate on INEC's list for the 2027 elections.

What the faction is asking for

Turaki said his lawyers have been told to study the judgment and advise on next steps, and that a meeting with the legal team was scheduled right after Saturday's visit. He said the party may go to the Supreme Court.

He also said the party's Board of Trustees did not file a fresh suit, but is asking the courts to interpret the combined effect of earlier judgments from the FCT High Court, the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

According to Turaki, the PDP followed the Electoral Act in conducting its primaries and submitted the names of its presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates to INEC. He argued the commission is obliged to publish those names as PDP candidates for 2027.

"PDP must survive," he said, adding that "Nigeria will never go down. PDP will also not go down."

He urged members to stay calm and avoid violence, saying the party would be ready for the polls even if the legal issues were resolved only days before the election.

Candidates back the leadership

The Chairman of the PDP Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, Sunday Biggs, said the candidates came to show solidarity and to push for the rebuilding of the party.

"We believe in the PDP, we stand with the party, and we are committed to its survival and success," Biggs said.

The candidates asked the interim leadership to pursue a Supreme Court appeal urgently and with competent lawyers. They also called for a wider reconciliation platform for aggrieved members, better communication with the grassroots to curb rumour and anxiety, and a clear strategy to make the party competitive again.

The delegation included Biggs (Plateau), Ladi Hassan (Kwara), Joel Danlami (Taraba), Caleb Andrew Myebangara (Adamawa), Isah Muqaddam (Gombe), Lawal Umar (Kaduna), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kebbi), Yakubu Mu'azu (Jigawa) and Zanna Gaddama (Borno).

Sources differ on the date of the visit: the Independent and Tribune reported it took place on Saturday, while The Whistler said Sunday.

What happens next: The faction's lawyers will advise on whether to head to the Supreme Court. Until the dispute is settled, the party's place on the 2027 ballot remains unclear.