Supreme Court Ruling Sparks New Leadership Crisis as PDP Factions Split Over Board of Trustees Control

PDP factions clash over control following a Supreme Court ruling nullifying the 2025 convention. One BoT wing claims authority while rivals reject the move.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 10:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from GUARDIAN Newspapers

The Legal Collapse of Established Party Structures

The Peoples Democratic Party has been plunged into fresh turmoil following a split three to two decision by the Supreme Court that effectively dismantled its existing leadership hierarchy. By upholding previous rulings from the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, the apex court determined that the November 2025 national convention was conducted in violation of active court orders. This landmark judgment has stripped the resulting National Working Committee of its legal standing, creating an immediate and contentious power vacuum within Nigeria’s primary opposition organization.

Constitutional Interpretations and the Claim to Caretaker Authority

In the wake of the judicial nullification, internal factions have emerged to offer conflicting views on who holds the right to manage the party's affairs. Babangida Aliyu, representing a faction of the Board of Trustees, argued that the PDP constitution mandates the BoT to step in when the National Working Committee is rendered non-existent. According to Aliyu, this move is a necessary constitutional intervention to prevent the party from becoming rudderless, asserting that the BoT has officially taken over administrative responsibilities as of Thursday night.

Stakeholder Mobilization Amidst Growing Internal Friction

The push for BoT control was bolstered by a high-level meeting in Abuja involving several PDP governors and National Assembly members. These stakeholders have scheduled a series of emergency meetings for the coming days to consolidate their position and outline a path forward. According to Aliyu, the gathering confirmed that the party could not afford to remain without recognized executives, leading to the scheduling of a Board of Trustees session on Sunday followed by a National Executive Committee meeting on Monday to formalize the transition.