The Peoples Democratic Party is split over the Supreme Court ruling on its Ibadan convention, with senior party figures giving opposing interpretations of the judgment while the Board of Trustees moves to take control of party affairs.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News, PDP caucus leader in the House of Representatives, Frederick Agbedi, said the ruling leaves the party without leadership. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungunu Mohammed, disagreed and said the judgement has settled the matter.
The Supreme Court had upheld the nullification of the Ibadan convention, a decision that has now triggered debate within the party over who is in charge and what structure remains in place.
Agbedi said the ruling confirms earlier decisions and removes the current leadership structure. He said, “I think largely what we got at the end of the day was more of an affirmation of what the appeal court judgement was, to the extent that the Ibadan convention was again annulled, which means that it does not stand.” He added, “I have a party, I have a PDP without leadership, without a head.”
On the way forward, Agbedi pointed to the party’s constitution. “Section 32.5 clearly states in this situation, the BOT is the only other organ that will convene the NEC and then the NEC will now take decisions on the way forward.”
He also questioned the legitimacy of current office holders. “As we speak now, going by the Supreme Court judgement, there’s no national chairman, there’s no national office,” he said.
He added, “Anybody who parades himself in that nomenclature is only impersonating an office that does not exist.”
But Jungunu Mohammed rejected that interpretation, saying the Supreme Court has ended all disputes around leadership.
He said, “We have come to the end of the road. The Supreme Court has made final decisions. The leadership of the PDP has been finally led to rest. There is no faction whatsoever.”
He also argued that issues around suspension were never part of the cases before the courts. “Was the issue of suspension or expulsion ever a matter before these two courts? It was never an issue,” he said.
Mohammed insisted that legal procedure was clear and said matters should have been taken to higher courts if there were objections.
Agbedi, however, maintained that the ruling is not open to interpretation. “It is not open to different interpretations,” he said.
Following the ruling, the Board of Trustees led by Adolphus Wabara said it is taking charge of party affairs to prevent a leadership vacuum.
Agbedi supported the move, saying the BoT and National Executive Committee would now guide the party’s next steps.
Mohammed rejected the BoT’s position and said he does not recognise Wabara as chairman, naming Mao Ohuabunwa instead.
The disagreement highlights a deep division within the PDP as leaders interpret the Supreme Court ruling differently and stake competing claims over the party’s direction.
Ademide Adebayo
