A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the recent Supreme Court judgment left the party without a clear leadership structure, raising fresh concerns about internal stability.
The group, linked to former minister Tanimu Turaki, made this known in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong. It described the situation as a serious turning point for the opposition party.
According to the faction, the Supreme Court ruling upheld earlier decisions by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which had nullified a PDP convention held in Ibadan.
The judgment, delivered by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was split, with three justices supporting the decision and two dissenting.
The majority held that those who brought the appeal had acted in disobedience of an existing court order. Based on this, the court ruled that parties found to be in contempt could not seek relief, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.
However, the minority judges disagreed, arguing that the dispute was purely an internal party matter. They said the courts should not have intervened, as the issue did not involve any government agency but rather a leadership disagreement within the PDP.
The dissenting justices also criticised the majority for raising legal points on their own without allowing the parties to respond.
Following the ruling, the Turaki-aligned group said the outcome, combined with earlier suspensions of key figures within the party, has created a leadership vacuum.
“This effectively leaves the PDP without a defined leadership,” the statement said.
The faction warned that if the situation is not urgently addressed, it could weaken not only the party but also Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
It called on party organs to act quickly to restore order and legitimacy within the PDP.
