A faction of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has filed a suit at the Supreme Court to halt the national convention of a rival group led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, scheduled for March 29 and 30.
The legal action, filed on Friday, stems from a prior court ruling that invalidated a convention held by the opposing faction in November 2025. That event, convened in Ibadan, Oyo State, was subsequently nullified by a Federal High Court. The Court of Appeal later upheld that decision, prompting the current appeal to the Supreme Court.
The faction challenging the convention is led by former Minister Kabiru Turaki. In its Supreme Court filing, the group argues that both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate the internal party dispute. This jurisdictional challenge is the central plank of their legal argument against the lower courts’ rulings.
This move follows a series of internal party conflicts that have publicly divided the PDP. The faction aligned with Wike has maintained that the March convention will proceed as planned to elect new national leaders. In contrast, the Turaki-led group contests the legitimacy of that process, setting the stage for a decisive judicial determination.
Earlier this week, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Turaki-led faction held a closed-door meeting with the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), chaired by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, in Abuja. The purpose of this high-level meeting was not officially disclosed but is widely seen as part of coordinated strategy discussions amid the ongoing leadership crisis.
The outcome of the Supreme Court case will have profound implications for the PDP’s cohesion and its readiness for future elections. A ruling that permits Wike’s faction to hold its convention could solidify a new national leadership. Conversely, a decision favoring the Turaki group may trigger further legal and political maneuvering, potentially prolonging the party’s division.
The convention represents a critical juncture for the PDP, which has been the main opposition in Nigeria since losing the presidency in 2015. Its ability to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections is heavily dependent on resolving this factional battle. The Supreme Court’s willingness to hear the case and its eventual judgment will determine the immediate trajectory of the party’s internal governance and national strategy.
