Supreme Court CTC Exposes Setback for Wike Camp in PDP Leadership Crisis
Fresh details contained in the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement have exposed how the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, lost critical legal grounds in the ongoing leadership battle tearing apart the Peoples Democratic Party.
The document, obtained by PulseNets days after the apex court ruling, showed that the Supreme Court dismissed both the substantive appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction and the cross-appeal associated with the Wike-backed bloc.
Justice Stephen Adah, in the judgement, held that, “The Cross-Appeal is in the circumstance of the Main Appeal, dismissed.”
PulseNets learnt that the crisis originated after parallel conventions produced rival leadership blocs within the PDP. While one faction emerged from the Ibadan convention backed by allies of Seyi Makinde, the opposing bloc aligned with Wike emerged from the Abuja convention convened under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The judgement also upheld the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the suspension of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.
According to the appellate court decision referenced during the Supreme Court proceedings, Ajibade had already lost the legal authority to act on behalf of the party at the time multiple legal filings were initiated.
The development has now triggered fresh scrutiny over several actions carried out by Samuel Anyanwu while under suspension, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman and the conduct of the Abuja convention.
Political observers within the PDP told PulseNets that the ruling significantly weakens the legal basis of the Wike-backed leadership arrangement.
The Supreme Court also faulted the Ibadan convention, describing the exercise as an abuse of court process because it was conducted despite an existing court order restraining the convention from holding.
Justice Adah stated that parties who disobey valid court orders cannot turn around to seek protection from the same court.
The apex court subsequently declared the convention “null, void and of no effect.”
Meanwhile, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction has rejected interpretations suggesting that the judgement amounted to a major defeat for its camp.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Haruna Mohammed Jungudo, the group argued that the Certified True Copy circulating online was not officially certified by the Supreme Court.
Jungudo maintained that the apex court neither removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu nor directed the PDP Board of Trustees to assume control of the party.
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He further insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission still recognises Abdulrahman Mohammed and Anyanwu as the legitimate leadership of the party.
According to him, claims suggesting that the judgement created a leadership vacuum within the PDP were “false and misleading.”
He also accused certain political actors of deliberately twisting the Supreme Court ruling for political advantage.
