The Inside the PDP Power Fight: Court of Appeal Delivers Crucial Verdict
Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, has reportedly dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan which affirmed the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman Muhammed and Samuel Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee as the lawful leadership of the party.
Delivering its ruling on Friday, the appellate court held that the appeal filed by the Turaki faction lacked sufficient merit to overturn the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court. The court consequently dismissed the appeal and directed the faction to consolidate their case at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.
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Reacting to the development, the Abia State Chairman of the PDP, Elder Abraham Amah, who is also one of the respondents in the matter, described the decision of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal as a welcome development.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, where he is currently on a national assignment on behalf of the party, Amah said the ruling has further strengthened the position of the caretaker leadership.
“The decision of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal is a welcome development. As you may know, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has adjourned for ruling in nine grounds of appeal brought before it on the same matter.
“Now that their appeal has been rejected by the Ibadan Division, where they had gone to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which ruled against them after they sought an order of mandamus to compel INEC to recognize them, the high court instead ruled in favour of the Abdulrahman Muhammed and Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee as the authentic leaders of the PDP.
“We now hope that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal will promptly rule on the matter before it,” Amah stated.
“They went ahead with the now-invalid Ibadan convention even after two Federal High Court judgments ruled against them. So we welcome the ruling of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal on this matter,” he added.
PRESS STATEMENT
COURT OF APPEAL IBADAN: NO JUDGMENT IN PDP CASES.
Today, the appeals arising from the judgments of the Federal High Court, Ibadan and the High Court, Ibadan, where the two courts delivered conflicting judgments, came up before the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan.
At the sitting today, a panel of the court presided over by Hon. Justice Biobele Georgewill counselled that parties should explore amicable means of resolving the issues, noting that the subject of the suit is essentially an internal affair of the political party.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to Wednesday, 11th March, 2026, for the parties and their counsel to report on whether they are disposed to an amicable settlement. Where they agree, their decision will be documented as a consent judgment. However, if they do not agree to a settlement, the matter will proceed to hearing and legal determination.
It is therefore mischievous, false, and disingenuous for anyone to claim that a judgment was delivered by the court today. We wish to remind everyone that falsely reporting court proceedings constitutes contempt ex facie curiae, which is a criminal offence. People should therefore exercise caution in reporting court processes, whether on traditional or new media platforms.
Signed:
Comrade Ini Ememobong, mnipr
National Publicity Secretary
Peoples Democratic Party
06032026
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