The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its state chairmen and governorship candidates to begin immediate grassroots mobilisation after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit linked to the party’s leadership.
This was announced on Thursday, 23 July by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
The decision was taken at a special stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja after leaders agreed to challenge the court ruling through the appeal process.
The action matters because it shows the party wants to strengthen its political activities while the leadership dispute continues in court.
The meeting followed a judgment by Justice Salim Olasupo Salim of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The court dismissed a suit filed by the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees and some founding members of the party.
The suit sought an order recognising the Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. The committee was set up by the National Executive Committee after the Supreme Court judgment created a leadership vacuum within the party.
The special stakeholders’ meeting brought together members of the Board of Trustees, state chairmen, ex-officio members and PDP governorship candidates. Kabiru Turaki chaired the meeting in Abuja.
After reviewing the court judgment, the stakeholders agreed that all state chairmen and governorship candidates should begin grassroots mobilisation and citizen engagement in their states without delay.
The decision places political activities alongside the legal battle. Rather than waiting for the appeal process to end, the party wants its structures at state level to stay active and maintain contact with supporters.
The stakeholders also reaffirmed their support for the Interim National Working Committee led by Turaki. They commended the committee’s leadership and agreed that it should continue to guide the party while the legal process continues.
The meeting also agreed that the Federal High Court judgment should be challenged at the Court of Appeal.
The Board of Trustees, through its Secretary, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, pledged to pursue the appeal through every legal channel available.
State chairmen also backed the decision. Their chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, expressed full confidence in the Turaki-led leadership and affirmed the forum’s support for the committee.
Governorship candidates on the party’s platform also declared their commitment to what they called the party’s constitutional process and legitimate leadership structure.
The court case centres on the recognition of the Interim National Working Committee established by the National Executive Committee after the Supreme Court ruling created uncertainty over the party’s leadership.
By choosing to appeal, the PDP is seeking a higher court’s decision on the matter while keeping its political structures active.
The party also used the meeting to restate its position on Nigeria’s democratic system. It said it would continue to function as an opposition party and support a multi-party democracy.
Party leaders maintained that strong opposition parties play an important role in the country’s democratic system. They said the PDP would continue to pursue that objective while following legal procedures over the leadership dispute.
The meeting ended with a united position from the Board of Trustees, state chairmen and governorship candidates, all backing the Interim National Working Committee and its legal challenge to the Federal High Court judgment.
With the appeal now set to begin and mobilisation activities starting in the states, the PDP is trying to keep its party structures active while seeking a legal ruling that could determine the future of its interim leadership.