*Say Appeal And Stay Of Execution Filed, Ibadan Judgment In Abeyance

The Management and Staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) have issued a 16-point statement rejecting the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan on the leadership of the party, reaffirming their recognition, loyalty and allegiance to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The statement, dated February 3, 2026, was signed by 76 members of the PDP Management and Staff, led by Gambo Isa Gaude, Acting Director of Administration.

The Management and Staff stated that they reaffirm their recognition, loyalty and allegiance to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party which was duly and legally elected at the Party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15-16, 2025.

The staff of the PDP, as custodians of the PDP Secretariat, stated that they will not align with or recognize any other unauthorised leadership apart from the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) because the leadership was validly elected at the National Convention sanctioned by all the legitimate organs of the Party.

The statement stated that it is already established in a plethora of judgments of the Supreme Court that issues of membership, leadership, congresses and conventions of a political party are entirely the internal affairs of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction to interfere or interrogate.

The statement further stated that there was no legal encumbrance whatsoever against the conduct of the National Convention in Ibadan to elect new National Officers of the party, as it was legally convened by the National Executive Committee at its 101st meeting of July 24, 2025 pursuant to its powers under Section 31 (2) (a) of the PDP Constitution.

The party fulfilled the statutory requirements of the law as stipulated in Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 by notifying INEC of the National Convention which was convened with them (INEC) in attendance.

The statement also referenced the just delivered Supreme Court Judgment in the case of INEC vs SDP & Ors, where the Apex Court while admonishing INEC, reaffirmed its longstanding position that what is required of the Political Parties is to “Notify” the Commission as required by law.

The statement stated that according to the Electoral Act, the only time a Convention, Congress or Meeting would be voided under the law is if notice of such events were never given to the Commission, which is not the case in this instance.

Under Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the decision of the National Executive Committee (in this case to hold the Convention to elect a new leadership of the party) is binding on all organs and members of the Party, a provision which rendered the litigation by the two former members of the party and the consequential judgments against the Convention by Justice Kolawale Omotosho and Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja surprising.

The statement stated that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan is clearly inconsistent with the extant judgment of the Supreme Court on party’s internal affairs especially as the subject matter is before an appellate court on the ground of want of jurisdiction of the trial court.

It is of particular concern that Justice Agomoh accused the party of conducting the Convention in disobedience to the order of court when actually, the judge was made aware of the ruling by the Oyo State High Court which ordered the party to conduct the exercise.

The statement further stated that Justice Uche Agomoh in her Judgment turned the law on its head by granting reliefs that were not sought against the party to the extent that she attempted to create a Caretaker Committee with the intention to foist same on the party outside the limit of her jurisdictional power.

“There is no provision in our Party’s Constitution empowering any unelected individual or group to arbitrarily form committees and allocate positions to themselves,” the statement said.

As custodians of the National Secretariat of the PDP, the statement stated that they are very much aware that the immediate past NWC is functus officio since their tenure has ended by effluxion of time, and therefore, no member of that NWC can lay claim to any office under any guise whatsoever.

The statement commended the leadership of the party for swiftly filing an appeal and Stay of Execution which puts the judgment by Justice Uche Agomoh in abeyance and retains the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee which was duly elected at the Ibadan Convention legally intact, valid and fully operational.

As critical stakeholders in the Democratic process, the statement urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to caution judges who are complicit in delivering judgments or issuing orders that make them appear as willing tools in the hands of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to cripple opposition and destroy hard-earned democracy.

The statement warned that the action of these judges of particular concern is eroding the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, and that when such confidence is eroded, citizens have the tendency to resort to self-help, which is a recipe for crisis in the country.

The statement called on members of the PDP not to be fazed by the Judgment but remain resolute as the party takes firm steps to surmount all the hurdles and reposition on the path of victory ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statement was signed by the following 76 members of the PDP Management and Staff:

DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS:

  1. Gambo Isa Gaude (Ag. Director Administration)
  2. Dr. Edward Ugbada Adie (DG PDI)
  3. Nnorom Chinwe Ihuoma (Director, Const & Elect. Matters, PDI)
  4. Yusuf Ismail Alkali (Director Finance)
  5. Moyegun Adeyemi (Director Org/Mob)
  6. Gwebe Dan-Tekura (Director PDI)
  7. Anicho Okoro (Director Cabinet)
  8. Barr. Ibrahim Garba (Ag. Director Legal)
  9. Magaji Kabiru (Dep. Director Personnel)
  10. Ekpe Emmanuel Ikpai (Dep. Director Cabinet)

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS:

  1. Agape Kramer (Asst. Director, Foreign Chapter)
  2. Dr. Udoaka Christopher (Chief Security Officer)
  3. Pst. Ejeh Josephine (Asst Director, Audit)
  4. Kanebi Scholastica (Asst Director Organisation)
  5. Adamu Sani (Asst. Director Mobilisation)
  6. Danazumi Boshe (Asst. Director PDI)
  7. Jumbo Tombra Blankson (Asst Director, Budget)
  8. Nwachukwu Chinedu Barbara (Asst. Director BoT Secretariat)
  9. Otokpa Jacob Ochai (Asst. Director Legal)
  10. Sadiku Abduljafaru (Asst. Director Org/Mob)

STAFF MEMBERS:

  1. Aniugwu Grace Nwamaka
  2. Nsofor Cordelia
  3. Ogbonyomi Maria
  4. Akinsette Caroline
  5. Omoniyi Olubunmi A.
  6. Shemu Deborah Jana
  7. Omobo Williams Sunday
  8. Ayodeji Gbenga Fredrick
  9. Adeyemi Florence Olubosede
  10. Usman Sulaiman
  11. Sheriff Ahmed Sheriff
  12. Daudawa Hassan Mohammed
  13. Agbetuyi Anthony
  14. Asabo Ayodeji Victor
  15. Asobinuanwu Nheoma Ndu
  16. Onah Mercy
  17. Johnson Maimuna
  18. Ogunlowo David Adebayo
  19. Mohammed Baba A.
  20. Ben Precious Okoroha
  21. Ezekiel Innocent Chibundu
  22. Nandom Margaret
  23. Gbenga Joseph Meshack
  24. Dr. Ebisike Flora Chiazoka
  25. Christopher Osi Iwenekhai
  26. Barr. Asine Rachael
  27. Yahaya Nasiru
  28. Kwablang Gode Cephas
  29. Samuel Kevin Andason
  30. Ibu Thomas I.
  31. Nyityo Maryann
  32. Balami Mammy Yarmi
  33. Adedokun Adeola Shakirat
  34. Ayodele Bimbo
  35. Adewole Kafayat Adedayo
  36. Begha Terna
  37. Igwe Friday
  38. Hwok Tson Don
  39. Ukwayi Cecilia Andorshiye
  40. Johnson Margaret Oluwafunmilayo
  41. Omachoko Abraham Musa
  42. Jooli Emmanuel
  43. Gidado Abba Umar
  44. Agema Sasmson
  45. Rita Ogbuji Chioma
  46. Nyam Terfa
  47. Unazi Odang Stephen
  48. Alabi Edward
  49. Obasohan Julius Jnr
  50. Suleiman Falalu
  51. Kaku Mamman
  52. Onu Joseph
  53. Ashi Ngi Stella
  54. Etim Emmanuel Joseph
  55. Marasa Lami
  56. Adeboye Ademuyiwa
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