PDP: Governors’ faction calls Wike-backed convention ‘jamboree,’ moves to Supreme Court

The governors’ faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Tanimu Turaki has dismissed the recent convention organised by the group loyal to Nyesom Wike, describing it as invalid and taking steps to challenge it in court.

The development occurred on Monday as the crisis over the party’s leadership deepened, with the governors’ camp insisting that the Abuja gathering should not stand.

The group, through its spokesperson Ini Ememobong, said it had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria to seek a final decision on the leadership dispute within the party.

According to the faction, the convention organised by the Wike-backed group went ahead despite ongoing legal proceedings and agreements reached earlier at the Court of Appeal.

The governors’ bloc argued that the convention violated due process and could affect the outcome of the case already before the court. It also disclosed that legal documents challenging the exercise had been served on the opposing group, adding that it would pursue the matter until a final ruling is given.

At the same time, the faction reacted to a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which reportedly granted the Wike-aligned group access to the party’s national secretariat and directed security agencies to provide protection. The governors’ camp said it had instructed its lawyers to challenge that ruling through an appeal.

The dispute comes after nearly three years of internal crisis that split the party into two camps. One faction, backed by governors including Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, had earlier conducted a convention in Ibadan where Turaki and others emerged as members of a rival National Working Committee.

In response, the Wike-aligned group set up a caretaker committee and later held its own convention in Abuja, where new leaders were elected.

Earlier court rulings had nullified the Ibadan convention, while another panel advised both sides to settle their differences. However, talks failed to resolve the issues, leading to fresh legal battles.

The governors’ faction also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress government under Bola Tinubu of influencing the crisis, claiming that opposition parties were under pressure. Despite this, the group urged members to remain hopeful as the Supreme Court prepares to decide on the matter.

The leadership struggle within the PDP continues to create divisions across states, with both camps holding parallel structures and laying claim to legitimacy as the party prepares for future elections.