Eshioromeh Sebastian
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared an end to factionalism within the Peoples Democratic Party following Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment that nullified the controversial Ibadan national convention.
Speaking at his Abuja residence shortly after the apex court delivered its split 3-2 decision, Wike told journalists that the verdict has brought finality to the protracted leadership dispute that has plagued the main opposition party.
“The PDP is one. The judgment has put to rest reactions of factions within the party,” Wike declared .
Supreme Court delivers knockout blow to Turaki faction
In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Stephen Adah, the Supreme Court voided the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which had produced a factional leadership led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde .
The apex court held that the convention was conducted in disobedience to subsisting court orders, describing the action as an “abuse of court process” . Justice Adah stated that the appellants violated a restraining order issued by a Federal High Court, which had barred the party from proceeding with the exercise .
The court further agreed with the findings of lower courts that the PDP faction abused court processes by obtaining a counter-order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after an earlier restraining order had been issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The PDP’s leadership crisis traces back to the aftermath of the 2023 general election, when the party splintered into factions following the defeat of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The tensions escalated when former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his group of five governors rebelled against Atiku’s leadership, a conflict widely believed to have contributed significantly to the party’s electoral loss to President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress.
The crisis deepened further when the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, was suspended by his ward in Benue State, leading to Ambassador Umar Damagum assuming role as acting national chairman .
The factional dispute reached a critical point in November 2025 when the Makinde-backed group proceeded with the Ibadan convention despite clear judicial directives to halt the exercise.
The legal fireworks began when former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, a foundation member of the PDP, approached the Federal High Court challenging his exclusion from contesting for the position of National Chairman .
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the PDP from conducting the convention until Lamido was allowed to participate in the process. The court specifically barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any convention held without including Lamido as a contestant .
Despite these orders, the Makinde-backed faction proceeded with the Ibadan convention, prompting further litigation. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the lower court’s decision, describing the PDP’s action as a “direct affront to judicial authority” .
Dissatisfied with the concurrent judgments of both lower courts, the Turaki-led faction escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to validate the convention and the executives it produced.
In the lead majority judgment, Justices Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Stephen Adah, and Mohammed Garba held that the appellants were in contempt of court and could not be accommodated by the apex court. The majority maintained that the issue went beyond internal party affairs because it involved disobedience to lawful court orders .
However, Justices Haruna Tsammani and Abubakar Umar, in their minority judgment, argued that the dispute stemmed from matters concerning the internal affairs of the PDP and were therefore non-justiciable. They held that it is not the duty of the court to fish out matters to execute cases for respondents.
Following the judgment, Wike was unequivocal in his assessment of the ruling’s implications for the party’s internal dynamics.
“The Supreme Court judgment has now made it known there is only one PDP, and we no longer hear faction. Faction does not exist any longer in the Peoples Democratic Party,” the FCT minister declared .
He specifically addressed the political fallout for key backers of the Turaki-led group, claiming that Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s hopes have been dashed.
“I don’t know where they are going to pitch their tent,” Wike said .
The FCT minister reaffirmed that the convention of the Abdulrahman-led group, held in March 2026 and backed by his camp, remains valid. That convention re-elected Abdulrahman Mohammed and other members of the National Working Committee.
However, the Turaki-led faction has condemned the Supreme Court ruling, describing it as a “dangerous bend” for the party and Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction argued that the split decision has effectively left the PDP without defined leadership.
“This leads the vehicle of our party towards a dangerous bend, which, if not carefully navigated, may not only affect the party but also multi-party democracy in our country,” the statement read .
The faction expressed confidence that the existing organs of the party would take necessary steps to salvage the PDP and confer leadership on it going forward.
With the Supreme Court having effectively settled the legal dispute over the legitimacy of the factional leadership that emerged from the Ibadan convention, the ruling is expected to shape the PDP’s internal arrangements as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections .
The judgment affirms the earlier decisions of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had barred INEC from recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention .
Wike also used the opportunity to comment on the broader political landscape, drawing a distinction between political parties and individuals while expressing strong views about some political actors.
“Not that I don’t like the party, I hate the individuals involved. I don’t like them. They are part of the people who have plunged Nigeria into problems,” Wike stated .
The FCT minister also addressed the situation within the African Democratic Congress, noting that its internal crisis remains unresolved following the court’s directive.
“The Supreme Court referred the ADC back to the Federal High Court. The ADC is still a problem,” he added .
The Supreme Court had reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22, delivering its highly anticipated decision on Thursday .
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