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As National Caretaker Working Committee begins plan for National Convention
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The acting Chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed has described Monday’s judgement of the Court of Appeal on the leadership crisis rocking the party as a “victory for the rule of law”.
The Court, in its ruling, nullified the outcome of the elective national convention of the party held on November 15 and 16 last year in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where members of the Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee were elected.
The Court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to accord recognition to the outcome of the same national convention.
The Chairman of the NCWC expressly declared that his committee now remains the only legitimate national leadership of the party following the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal.
Mohammed said these on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists after a meeting of the party’s National Caretaker Committee .
The meeting came barely 24 hours after the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling on several appeals relating to the party’s leadership crisis.
The caretaker committee chairman thanked party leaders and members for their continued support and commitment to the party’s activities.
His words, “I want to warmly welcome you to this very important National Caretaker Committee meeting coming after the appeal court judgment of yesterday (Monday).
“I wish to thank you all for your support, labour, steadfastness and commitment to the tasks and mandates ahead of us,” he said.
Mohammed commended party leaders for the support given to the caretaker leadership and congratulated members on the conduct of recent internal party elections.
“I want to congratulate us on the successful conduct of the ward congresses, local government congresses and the forthcoming state congresses in the affected states,” he added.
Mohammed disclosed that the Court of Appeal delivered judgments in nine appeals in favour of the caretaker leadership, describing the outcome as a victory for the rule of law.
“Yesterday (Monday), we were all at the Appeal Court and the court delivered judgment on nine appeals in our favour,” he said, while thanking the party’s legal team, leaders and supporters for their encouragement and prayers.
According to him, the ruling reaffirmed the authority of the caretaker committee as the only body empowered to manage the affairs of the party and present candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I want to make it clear at this time that the National Caretaker Working Committee remains the only national leadership recognised by the law and the party. It is the only legitimate body that can present candidates in the build-up to the 2027 general elections,” Mohammed stated.
He therefore urged party stakeholders, leaders and members to rally behind the caretaker committee as preparations are intensified for the next election cycle.
He said, “The court has spoken once again that the rule of law must prevail in our party’s internal affairs. I urge all stakeholders, party leaders, members and supporters to rally around the National Caretaker Working Committee.”
Mohammed also cautioned party members against misinformation circulating on social media regarding the judgment.
“As you know, there are propagandists speculating on social media to discredit the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal,” he said, adding, “We must put the right information out there for our members in order not to be misled.”
He noted that the committee would wait for the Certified True Copy of the judgment before taking further legal steps if necessary.
“As we proceed with preparations for the national convention, we will wait for the certified copy of the judgment to prepare ourselves for further defence of the party at the Supreme Court, if any,” he said.
The caretaker chairman also called for unity within the party and urged members to avoid further litigation that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
“Most importantly, I call on all party stakeholders, leaders and members to unite ourselves for the betterment of our great party and avoid litigations that will delay our activities towards the 2027 general election,” he said.
While answering a question on the re-opening of the party’s national secretariat popularly called Wadata House, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, said the leadership of the party would return to the building once the certified copy of the judgment is obtained.
“The appeal court has given the mandate for this National Working Committee to continue the defence of the party,” Anyanwu said.
“By the time we get the certified copy of the judgment today or tomorrow, we shall go back to our national secretariat, especially now that we are preparing for the national convention of our party”, he said.
Journalists were later taken round for an inspection tour of the National Stadium, Abuja where the national convention slated to hold between 29th to 30th March, 2026 will take place.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the inspection tour, Mohammed said, “You can see for yourself, and that is why we are here this afternoon—to look at the venue of the national convention that is coming up on the 29th and 30th of March, and to also look at the possibility of putting things in place before the date of the national convention.
“With the outcome of the Appeal Court judgment, each and every individual across the federation and those who are in the diaspora all know that we have a party at hand.
“The leadership of our party and the National Caretaker Working Committee are willing to do everything possible to make sure that we have a smooth national convention that we have never, never had before.
“Unity is important for the party at this stage. Of course, you heard from the speech of the National Secretary yesterday—we call on all members of our party to come so that we can work together for the progress of the party and democracy in Nigeria”, he said.
