The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday dismissed reports of a leadership vacuum following a Supreme Court judgment delivered the previous day, it insisted that its National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, remains the legitimate head of the party.
Factional National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed while speaking in Abuja, said the ruling by the Nigeria’s Apex court was limited to the legality of the Ibadan convention and did not affect the party’s current National Working Committee (NWC).
“Let it be clear and unambiguous that the Supreme Court judgment of yesterday only nullified the illegal Ibadan Convention and dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led purported NWC for lacking in merit,” he said.
Mohammed added that the judgment did not address any suspension or expulsion of party officials. He said that such issues were never brought before the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, or the apex court. “The apex court addressed only the matter before it, which is the validity or otherwise of the so-called Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 Ibadan Convention,” he said.
He maintained that the PDP leadership structure remains intact and fully operational under Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and dismissed claims of a leadership crisis as “false narratives.
“What we are witnessing is a desperate attempt by a rejected group to twist the clear facts contained in the judgment in order to mislead the public,” he said.
The party also rejected suggestions that its Board of Trustees (BoT) had taken over leadership, saying the PDP constitution does not empower the body to assume the functions of the NWC.
Mohammed criticised statements attributed to former BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, saying his tenure had expired and that the only recognised BoT leadership is headed by Mao Ohuabunwa.
He urged the media to refrain from describing the party as factionalised, insisting there were no factions within the PDP.