The lingering leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Monday following a ruling by the Appeal Court, further complicating the party’s internal dispute over its national convention.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, in its judgment, held that it had no reason to deviate from the trial court’s decision, which observed that the PDP violated its own laws in the process leading to last year’s November 15 and 16 convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from participating in, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the convention on the grounds that congresses were not held in many states to warrant the conduct of a national convention.
Read also: Appeal Court backs Wike camp, voids 2025 PDP convention outcome, bars INEC recognition
However, the PDP went ahead to conduct the convention despite the advice by Omotosho that the party should conduct congresses in the affected states first, before proceeding with the national convention.
A rival group within the party, widely believed to be aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had earlier rejected the Ibadan convention and instead constituted a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party pending the conduct of a fresh convention.
The caretaker committee, headed by Mohammed Abdulrahman with Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary, argued that the Ibadan convention violated provisions of the party’s constitution and existing court orders.
Since 2023, the PDP has been grappling with internal disagreements over leadership, zoning arrangements and control of party structures at the national and state levels.
These disputes have often spilled into the courts, creating a cycle of litigation that has slowed the party’s organisational activities.
The recurring legal battles have affected the PDP’s ability to project unity and rebuild public confidence, with many state chapters now in disarray.
In the past one year, the party has also been hit by defections of its governors and chieftains to other parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
More than eight PDP governors elected on the party’s platform in 2023 have reportedly joined the APC. The party has lost governors in Akwa Ibom State, Enugu State, Plateau State, Taraba State, Bayelsa and Rivers State to the APC, while Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, has also moved to the APC.
Political analysts say the development could further complicate efforts by the party to stabilise its internal structures at a time when it is attempting to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general election.
Many party members across the country who reacted to the ruling, said it is apparent that the PDP is at a crossroads and that the only solution is for its leaders to come together and agree on a path forward.
“Court can’t resolve this crisis; our leaders need to come together and meet on the way forward,” Shola Ogunsola, a PDP chieftain, told BusinessDay.
Yemi Ladipo, a political analyst, also told BusinessDay that anyone hoping to secure the party’s ticket may be “groping in the dark” as the future currently appears uncertain for the PDP.
“It is a difficult situation for PDP members. The judiciary and the electoral umpire, INEC, cannot allow any illegality to hold sway. That implies none of the PDP’s candidates will get recognition, especially those of the Turaki camp, which have been labelled as having flagrantly disregarded court rulings,” Ladipo stated.
Read also: Anxiety amongst PDP supporters as Appeal Court delivers judgement
Speaking further, Ladipo argued that unless something strategic is done to broker a truce between the rival camps and find a political solution to the impasse, the PDP could face further decline.
“Except something smart is worked out to break a truce with the other camp and find a political solution to the impasse between the two camps, the PDP may become history in a short while,” he added.
Other analysts, however, argue that the crisis reflects deeper internal rivalries among influential party figures competing for control of the party ahead of future elections.
There are also those who believe that the PDP still possesses a significant national structure and voter base, especially considering recent by-elections.
However, they emphasise that unity and organisational discipline will be critical if the party hopes to remain competitive in the evolving political landscape ahead of 2027.
