The release of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership dispute has reopened old wounds within the party.
The development has triggered a fresh clash between the rival camps led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed, with both sides insisting that the apex court judgment supports their position.
Supporters of the Interim National Working Committee, led by Turaki, celebrated in Abuja on Friday, claiming that the contents of the CTC validated their leadership of the party.
A video circulated from Turaki’s office showed jubilant supporters welcoming the INWC chairman while chanting PDP slogans and offering prayers for his success.
Although Turaki had not officially addressed the media as of Friday night, sources within his camp claimed that the judgment effectively upheld the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Umar Bature as national officers of the party.
According to the Turaki camp, the implication of the judgment is that actions allegedly taken by the affected officials after their suspension, including the March 29 national convention that produced Abdulrahman Mohammed as PDP national chairman, are invalid.
However, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee rejected the claim, dismissing suggestions that the Supreme Court judgment legitimised the Turaki-led INWC.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Abdulrahman-led faction, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, questioned the authenticity of the CTC circulating online and insisted that, even if genuine, it did not suspend Anyanwu or any member of the party leadership.
He maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission still recognises the Abdulrahman-led leadership structure as the authentic leadership of the PDP.
In a statement issued on Friday night, the faction accused some individuals of deliberately distorting the Supreme Court ruling for political purposes.
“Contrary to the misleading narratives being promoted in some sections of the media and political space, the Supreme Court did not suspend Senator Samuel Anyanwu or any member of the party leadership,” the statement read.
The Abdulrahman-led camp further argued that the apex court neither directed the PDP Board of Trustees to take over the affairs of the party nor declared any vacuum in the party’s leadership structure.
It also accused the opposing faction of relying on what it described as a minority opinion in the judgment while ignoring the majority decision, which it said remained binding.
According to the statement, the Supreme Court dismissed the substantive appeal and consequently declined to entertain Anyanwu’s cross-appeal relating to issues of legal representation.
The faction stressed that the cross-appeal did not concern the suspension or expulsion of any party officer.
It also pointed to recent political developments involving prominent PDP figures as evidence that the Turaki-led structure lacks broad legitimacy within the party.
The group questioned why Bala Mohammed moved to the Allied Peoples Movement instead of remaining under the INWC structure allegedly recognised by the court.
It also referenced Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, claiming that his political actions suggested a lack of confidence in the Turaki-led faction.
The latest dispute has further deepened the leadership uncertainty within the PDP, as rival factions continue to lay claim to control of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
