S’Court verdict: Mohammed, Anyanwu remain in charge, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has lashed out at the factional Chairman of the Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, and the Tanimu Turaki bloc of the party over claims of a leadership vacuum in the party, insisting that its National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, remain in charge.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, accused the group of distorting the April 30, 2026 judgment of the Supreme Court and misleading the public.

He said the apex court only invalidated the Ibadan “convention” and dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction for lacking merit, stressing that the ruling did not address the suspension or removal of any party official.

“This remains the sole substance of the judgment, contrary to the false narratives being circulated. The judgment did not uphold any suspension or expulsion of any officer of the party. The reason is simple: the issue of suspension or expulsion was never before the Federal High Court, let alone the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. It was neither canvassed at the Federal High Court nor formed part of the questions for determination at any level of adjudication.

“The apex court addressed only the matter before it, which is the validity or otherwise of the so-called 15th and 16th Ibadan Convention. Accordingly, throughout the Supreme Court judgment, there was no mention whatsoever of suspension or expulsion of any party officer,” he said.

Mohammed maintained that there had been no vacuum in the PDP, describing claims of an interim takeover as baseless.

“It is also important to state that there has never been a vacuum, obstruction, or absence of leadership in our party that presupposes an interim takeover of the administration of the party by any authority. The leadership structure of the PDP remains intact, lawful, and fully operational under the able National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, and our indefatigable National Secretary, Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Their positions remain duly recognised,” he added.

The PDP spokesman further alleged that the same actors who disregarded court orders during the Ibadan convention were continuing efforts to destabilise the party.

He also dismissed moves by the Board of Trustees to assume control of the party, saying the party’s constitution does not empower it to take over the functions of the National Working Committee.

“Most curious is the claim by Senator Adolphus Wabara, whose tenure as Chairman of the Board of Trustees had long expired even before the onset of this crisis. The only known legitimate leadership of the party’s Board of Trustees is that led by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. Senator Adolphus Wabara should retrace his steps from making statements on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party forthwith. Any such infractions within the party will no longer be tolerated,” he said.

He urged the public and the media to disregard what he described as propaganda, insisting that there were no factions in the party.

In a split 3–2 decision, the Supreme Court invalidated the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which produced the Turaki-led leadership backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The court held that the convention violated subsisting orders restraining the party from proceeding without meeting set conditions.

However, Wabara had declared that there was no leadership in place and announced that the Board of Trustees had taken over to stabilise the party, while also convening a BoT meeting for Sunday and a NEC meeting for Monday.