BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken another turn, as the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, considers approaching the Supreme Court after losing its appeal against the Wike-backed leadership of the party.

The faction disclosed that its legal team was reviewing the Court of Appeal judgment, which affirmed the position of the faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, before deciding whether to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

Turaki revealed this on Saturday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of governorship candidates who obtained nomination and expression of interest forms from his faction. The candidates visited the faction's leadership to express solidarity and encourage efforts towards resolving the party's lingering leadership crisis.

The delegation comprised governorship candidates from nine states, including Sunday Biggs of Plateau, Ladi Hassan of Kwara, Joel Danlami of Taraba, Caleb Myebangara of Adamawa, Isah Muqaddam of Gombe, Lawal Umar of Kaduna, Ibrahim Abdullahi of Kebbi, Yakubu Mu’azu of Jigawa and Zanna Gaddama of Borno.

Responding to the delegation, Turaki said the faction had already instructed its lawyers to examine the judgment and provide legal advice on the available options.

He explained that a meeting with the legal team had been scheduled immediately after the engagement to determine the next line of action.

The Court of Appeal had, in a unanimous decision delivered last Wednesday, upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court dismissing a suit challenging the leadership of the Wike-backed PDP faction, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The appeal was instituted by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, who chairs the Board of Trustees aligned with Turaki's faction, alongside seven others, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other respondents.

The appellants had asked the appellate court to overturn the Federal High Court's decision and compel INEC to recognise the Interim National Working Committee led by Turaki.

They argued that the committee emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting convened following the Supreme Court's judgment in April.

However, the three-member panel, presided over by Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, with Justices Laja Balogun and Ruqayyat Ayoola as members, dismissed the appeal, leaving the lower court's decision intact.

Turaki insists struggle is not over

Despite the legal setback, Turaki maintained that his faction would not abandon its efforts to secure recognition as the PDP's authentic national leadership, insisting that the struggle would continue through constitutional and legal channels.

He expressed confidence that the faction would eventually prevail at the Supreme Court, allowing candidates who obtained nomination forms through its platform to participate in the 2027 general elections.

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Turaki further predicted that the PDP would secure victory in the 2027 elections once its candidates were cleared to contest.

He assured the governorship candidates and other party aspirants that the current situation would not end their political ambitions, urging them to remain committed despite the latest court ruling.

According to him, the party still has an opportunity to resolve its internal crisis and return to the electoral field before the next general elections.

Turaki also accused unnamed political interests of attempting to undermine the PDP, declaring that his faction would continue resisting what he described as efforts by undemocratic forces to weaken the party.

He called on party members and supporters to remain calm, disciplined and hopeful, warning against actions that could further complicate the crisis.

Governorship candidates demand reconciliation

Earlier, speaking on behalf of the delegation, Plateau State governorship candidate, Sunday Biggs, said the visit was organised to demonstrate support for the faction's leadership and encourage it to develop a clear strategy for strengthening the party.

He urged the Interim National Working Committee to intensify efforts to unite members, particularly at the grassroots, while ensuring that the planned legal challenge, if pursued, was handled with urgency and adequate preparation.

Biggs also called for a broader reconciliation process that would bring aggrieved members together and create room for constructive discussions towards resolving the party's leadership disagreement.

He stressed the need for effective communication between the party's leadership and its members to prevent misinformation, speculation and unnecessary anxiety arising from the ongoing crisis.

The governorship candidates further urged the faction to develop a comprehensive political and organisational strategy capable of strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The latest development highlights the continuing divisions within the PDP, with the rival factions maintaining competing claims to the party's leadership as the 2027 elections approach.