Factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are awaiting the January 23 ruling of the Court of Appeal on the party’s leadership tussle before deciding on their next line of action.
The legal dispute over the control of the main opposition party has now shifted to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, following appeals filed by parties involved in the crisis.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, counsel to the Kabiru Turaki-led faction, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court that the appeal had been duly entered.
Uche also drew the attention of the court to a motion seeking an order to stay further proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.
Following this development, the Turaki-led faction urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to hands off the matter until the appellate court delivers its ruling.
Speaking with ThisDay, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, factional National Secretary of the PDP loyal to the Abdullahi Mohammed-led group and aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said his camp would wait for the January 23 ruling before taking further steps.
He said, “Please let us wait for what the Court of Appeal will say on the motion over the crisis. After the January 23 date, I will speak on the next line of action.
“We are aware that elections are around the corner and our supporters are waiting to know where to go and how to go about it.”
Similarly, Sani Umar, former media aide to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and current media aide to the PDP national chairman, said the Turaki-led faction would await the appellate court’s decision.
He said, “The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led PDP will wait until the matter is decided at the Court of Appeal before determining the next line of action.”
Umar expressed confidence that the court would rule in favour of the Turaki-led faction.
As the 2027 general election draws closer, several PDP members with political ambitions are increasingly worried about their political future amid the unresolved leadership crisis.
The anxiety has been heightened by a statement from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), indicating that it is yet to recognise the Turaki-led faction due to conflicting court orders.
Currently, the rival factions operate from separate national offices. The Turaki-led PDP runs its operations from an office in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, while the faction loyal to Wike operates from Wuye, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force continues to seal the party’s official national secretariat on Michael Okpara Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Sources told ThisDay that uncertainty over the party’s leadership has led some PDP stakeholders to consider defecting en masse to either the Accord Party or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where several PDP leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark, have moved.
With political activities expected to commence by early April 2026, followed by party primaries shortly after, pressure continues to mount within the PDP.
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the coalition party’s doors remain open.
“We are open to all Nigerians. We cannot close our doors to anybody, including those from the PDP,” Abdullahi said.