Supreme Court Ruling: PDP BoT Takes Over Party Leadership, Nullifies Recent Conventions

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party has assumed national leadership of the party following a Supreme Court judgment that invalidated key party structures and decisions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara said the decision was taken to prevent a leadership vacuum after the apex court nullified the PDP’s National Convention held between November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The court ruling effectively dissolved the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) produced at the convention. It also upheld the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, who served as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, respectively.

According to the BoT, the judgment renders all actions taken by the suspended officials—including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, the formation of a caretaker committee, and the March 29, 2026 convention in Abuja—“illegal, null and void.”

The statement said the invalidation of both the Turaki-led NWC and the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker structure places the responsibility of leadership on the BoT as the party’s second highest organ, in line with its constitution.

“The BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP as a constitutional remedial step to stabilize the party,” Wabara said.

To restore order, the BoT announced plans to convene an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim National Working Committee that will manage the party’s affairs and prepare it for the 2027 general elections.

Party staff were directed to resume duties at the national secretariat under the supervision of the BoT pending the appointment of the interim leadership.

The BoT also commended party leaders, including Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, alongside other organs of the party, for their resilience during the crisis.

Calling for unity, the BoT urged members to set aside personal interests and embrace reconciliation to reposition the PDP and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.