Wike lauds court ruling nullifying PDP convention, tasks party on unity

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the recent Court of Appeal judgment nullifying the 2025 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention as a “victory for the rule of law” and a decisive blow against impunity.
Speaking during a briefing on Monday, Wike expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to uphold the judgment stopping the convention, which had been a point of heavy contention within the party. He noted that the ruling serves as a vital reminder that political parties must operate within the boundaries of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Noting that beyond “Internal Affairs”, Wike dismissed arguments that the convention dispute was strictly an internal party matter.
Highlighting the legal distinction, he stated:”When you say you are violating the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC Guidelines, it is no longer within the realm of internal affairs. The court must come in and ask, ‘Why would you violate the laws?’”
He also referenced Supreme Court precedents to support his stance, insisting that while leadership choices are internal, adherence to statutory provisions is a matter of public law.
With party primaries scheduled to begin in April, the Minister urged aggrieved members to set aside their egos to prevent further damage to the party. He warned that pursuing a further appeal at the Supreme Court would only waste time and weaken the PDP’s position as a formidable opposition.
“Leave your personal interests. Let us sit down and see how we can forge ahead.
“The law has spoken. This is an opportunity for the PDP to look inwards and say, ‘Enough is enough”, Wike urged.
Confirming the party’s next steps, Wike announced that a National Caretaker Committee is now officially recognized to manage party affairs. He revealed that the committee has already secured a venue near the National Stadium in Abuja to host a fresh National Convention on March 29th and 30th, 2026.
The Minister noted that the venue was chosen as an alternative to Eagle Square, which is currently slated to host the APC National Convention during the same window.