The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party took another turn after details contained in the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement showed how the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, lost key grounds in the battle for control of the opposition party.
The document, which surfaced days after the apex court ruling, indicated that the Supreme Court dismissed both the main appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the cross-appeal linked to the Wike camp.
Justice Stephen Adah, in the judgement, held that, “The Cross-Appeal is in the circumstance of the Main Appeal, dismissed.”
The crisis began after rival conventions produced separate leadership blocs within the PDP. One faction emerged from the Ibadan convention backed by allies of Seyi Makinde, while the other faction aligned with Wike emerged from the Abuja convention led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The judgement also reinforced the earlier Court of Appeal ruling which upheld the suspension of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.
According to the appellate court decision referenced in the apex court proceedings, Ajibade had already lost the authority to act for the party at the time several legal processes were filed.
The implication of that finding has now raised fresh questions over actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu while under suspension, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman and the organisation of the Abuja convention.
Political observers within the party believe the ruling weakens the legal foundation of the Wike-backed leadership structure.
The Supreme Court also faulted the conduct of the Ibadan convention, describing it as an abuse of court process because it was held despite an existing court order stopping the exercise.
Justice Adah stated that parties who disobey valid court orders cannot seek protection from the same court.
The court declared the convention “null, void and of no effect.”
Meanwhile, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction has rejected interpretations of the judgement suggesting it suffered defeat.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Haruna Mohammed Jungudo, the group argued that the CTC circulating online was not officially certified by the Supreme Court.
Jungudo insisted that the apex court did not remove Senator Samuel Anyanwu or direct the PDP Board of Trustees to take over the party.
He also maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, still recognises Abdulrahman Mohammed and Anyanwu as the party’s leadership.
According to him, claims that the judgement created a leadership vacuum in the PDP were “false and misleading.”
He further accused some political actors of deliberately twisting the ruling for political gain.
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