The Supreme Court has brought closure to the prolonged leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party, with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, declaring that the party is now a single, united structure with no recognised factions.
Wike made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to the apex court’s judgment on appeals arising from the PDP crisis, insisting that the ruling had effectively settled all questions around parallel leadership claims within the party.
He said the court had dismissed the appeals filed by aggrieved parties challenging earlier decisions of lower courts, adding that the outcome had validated the party’s national convention held in Abuja and affirmed its current leadership structure.
According to Wike, the judgment also nullified claims arising from a rival convention held in Ibadan, which had been a major point of contention in the internal crisis that rocked the party.
The minister in an interview with journalists said, “The Apex Court has finally nailed that coffin. Today, the so-called factions of the PDP no longer exist. There is only one PDP.”
He maintained that attempts by dissenting groups to overturn the outcome of the party’s convention had failed at every judicial level, stressing that the Supreme Court’s position now leaves no room for further dispute.
“The Supreme Court has validated our convention, while the alternative convention has been set aside. What this means is that there is now one PDP, and it is led by Abdulrahman,” he added.
Wike also took a swipe at what he described as attempts by some actors to operate outside the provisions of the law, warning that political parties must comply strictly with their constitutions and the Electoral Act.
“The fact that you are in a position does not mean you can act as if there are no laws. There are rules regulating party activities, and those rules must be followed.”
On internal realignments within the party, the minister dismissed the political relevance of some figures who left the PDP during the crisis, describing them as liabilities rather than assets.
“Those who left us are not natural assets; they are natural liabilities. Some left because they were unsure of the direction of the party. Those ones may return. But those who came with the intention of destroying the party will not be welcomed back.”
He, however, ruled out any involvement in broader opposition coalition talks currently being discussed by some political actors, saying the PDP would not participate in alliances that lacked clear national direction.
“We are the main opposition party, but we do not believe in opposition for opposition’s sake. Our approach is constructive opposition,” he said.
Wike further argued that recent judicial pronouncements in political disputes shows the importance of due process, urging aggrieved politicians to always seek redress through the courts rather than undermine party structures.
He maintained that with the Supreme Court’s decision, the PDP had resolved its internal crisis and was now positioned to function as a unified opposition platform ahead of future political contests.
