A triumphant Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, National Chairman, has a word for some trouble-makers within and outside – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not a party for rascals and the unruly – it is a party for the disciplined and rule of law.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who emerged at the leadership of the main opposition group in Nigeria at its convention in November last year, spoke after the party coasted home to victory from the verdict of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Describing the victory, which finally nailed Sam Anyanwu, erstwhile National Secretary, forbidding him from laying claim to the position, one of the sources of the unending crisis within its fold, Turaki, said the decision had vindicated the PDP position over the leadership tussle.

He said: “It is a vindication for us in the PDP family. We’ve said time and time again that the decision of the Supreme Court is sacrosanct, and that our courts have no business meddling in matters that are purely political party matters.

Advertisement

“That is why, when some judges, who are judges of particular concern, have recently given judgments delving into issues they ordinarily should not delve into, and have given judgments that cannot be rationalised by whatever level of argument you want to advance, they are, if anything, trying to smear the name of the judiciary as an impartial institution, which is the last hope of the common man.

“The judgment of Justice Umar today has vindicated us in the PDP that, yes, we are the genuine leaders of the PDP; it has vindicated us that, yes, our convention was legitimately done.

“It has vindicated us that, indeed, people cannot just go into one corner and then begin to ascribe to themselves the leadership of a political party. This is not a market association, neither is it an association of shoe-shiners. This is a political party, and there must be discipline.”

Justice Mohammed Umar, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Tuesday, dismissed the suit a suit filed by Anyanwu seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagum, the PDP chairman at the time, from accepting, acting on, or giving effect to any correspondence from the party not signed by him.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer said the matter had been overtaken by events and should not proceed.

Advertisement

“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” the lawyer said, adding that his client’s tenure as PDP’s national secretary expired in December 2025.

Akintayo Balogun, lawyer to INEC, who said the suit ought not to have been instituted in the first instance, while also joining in asking that the action, named FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, asked for a cost of N1 million.

In December, a faction of the PDP, backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dissolved the national working committee (NWC) and set up a caretaker panel, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed as as the chairman, with Anyanwu as secretary, following the expiration of the tenure of the PDP NWC elected in October 2021.

Advertisement

For the umpteenth time, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor of Kano State, on Monday, stressed the importance of loyalty in political matters telling members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, that they will never lose in keeping faith with him.

The former Minister of Defence, who spoke against the backdrop of the alleged plan by Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State Governor to abandon the group, which brought him to power in 2023, praised those who had remained patient and resilient in the face of the current challenges, arguing that such attitude remained the foundation for a promising future for the movement.

His words: “I extend my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to our vibrant social media family, loyal supporters, and all well-wishers who continue to stand firmly by our noble cause. The strength of the movement lies in the unwavering commitment our followers to the principles of service, integrity and people-oriented development, even in the face of internal and external pressures.

“Your unwavering dedication to the timeless ideals of Kwankwasiyya — service, integrity, and people-centered progress, together with your remarkable patience amid every challenge and tribulation, is the very foundation upon which the promising future of our movement is being built.

Advertisement

“I assure you of my resolve to remain focused on service to the people. Decisions taken under the Kwankwasiyya banner will continue to prioritise the welfare of citizens, particularly young people.

“Rest assured, we shall remain steadfast in our duty to serve, making decisions that uplift and benefit our entire people, with special focus and priority on our loyal youth.”

Reports of Yusuf’s breakaway from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), founded by the former governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has remained in the offing for a long time now, resulting in divisions among key stakeholders, with some aligning with the governor and others remaining loyal to Kwankwaso, the party’s national leader.

Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Deputy Governor, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; factional NNPP chairman, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa; and the Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs to the governor, Sunusi Surajo Kwankwaso, are believed to have shunned the overtures of the governor for the APC move.

Advertisement

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be excluded from fielding a candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, owing to the crisis in the country’s main opposition party.

In what appears reflective of the calamity that might befall the party in 2027, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the list of candidates for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti state without the former ruling party on the ballot.

The list on the noticeboard of INEC’s headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday, contained names of only 12 candidates and their running mates of the approved political parties, with that of Wole Oluyede, the PDP candidate, conspicuously missing.

They include: Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party), Akande Oluwasegun (African Action Congress), Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party), Oluwadare Bejide (African Democratic Congress), Biodun Oyebanji (All Progressives Congress), and Bidemi Awogbemi (Action People’s Party).

Advertisement

Others are Joseph Anifowose (Allied People’s Movement), Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria People Party), Olaniyi Ayodele (People’s Redemption Party), Owoola Daramola (Young Progressive Party), and Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party).

Oluyede, a medical expert, was elected the PDP gubernatorial candidate in November, with 279 votes to defeat Funso Ayeni, his closest challenger, who received 239, through a process conducted by the PDP national working committee (NWC) backed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo.

The development came on the heels of last week’s pronouncement by the electoral body, rejecting the request of the Kabiru Turaki camp hosting the likes of Makinde and Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State for recognition, citing legal constraints.

The Turaki camp, which held a national convention in November, had been contending with the group led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Samuel Anyanwu, embattled National Secretary of the party, leading to a near show-down at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, recently.

Advertisement