Judiciary to rule on legitimacy of PDP national convention supported by Wike, says Makinde faction

The legitimacy of a recent convention held by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is now being contested in court, as a rival group backed by Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed steps up its legal challenge to the party's leadership crisis.

This dispute has transcended internal party politics and evolved into a constitutional issue, with far-reaching implications for the PDP's leadership and the extent of judicial intervention in party affairs, as tensions escalate over legitimacy and control of party structures.

In a statement, Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the factional PDP National Working Committee aligned with Makinde, revealed that the group has taken the matter to court, including filing processes at the Supreme Court, to resolve all issues surrounding the party's leadership and the disputed convention.

The statement expressed concern over the series of disturbing activities occurring within the last 48 hours, prompting genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party across the country to question the future of the party and the country's democracy.

The group has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court alongside other applications and served all parties involved, hoping that the apex court will expeditiously hear and adjudicate on the matter in the interest of democracy.

The Wike-backed faction was accused of proceeding with the convention despite ongoing proceedings at the Court of Appeal, where parties had already agreed on how the matter would proceed, with the statement labeling the convention a "pre-Easter jamboree" held in contempt of the Court of Appeal.

A ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the rival faction access to the PDP national secretariat and directed security agencies to protect them while occupying the premises, prompting the faction to move to challenge the judgment.

The faction has directed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal and other relevant applications against the judgment, which they claim favors the Wike-backed group.

Beyond the internal struggle, the group blamed the ruling party for the crisis, warning that the situation could have wider consequences for Nigeria's political space, as they believe the crises are orchestrated by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government.

The faction views the situation as an attempt by the APC to foist a one-party state on the country, and has urged its members and all Nigerians to keep hope alive in the expectation that the apex court will come to the rescue of multi-party democracy.

The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its earlier decisions on the jurisdiction of courts in internal affairs of political parties, when it has its final say on the matter.