The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has formally assumed leadership of the party following a Supreme Court judgment affecting its leadership structure.
According to the BoT, the move was necessary to prevent a leadership vacuum.
This was disclosed in a press release issued on Thursday by Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the BoT.
It stated: “It is with the utmost sense of duty and responsibility that the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, assumes leadership of our great party today, Thursday, April 30, 2026, pursuant to the empowering provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”
The BoT said its action was taken to avoid what it described as a potential vacuum at the national level of the party following a Supreme Court decision.
It said: “This constitutional intervention of the BoT is so as not to allow any leadership vacuum at the national level of our party following the judgment of the Supreme Court.”
According to the statement, the court invalidated the party’s November 15–16, 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).
It also said: “While the Supreme Court invalidated the Ibadan Convention, it also, in a unanimous decision of the five justices on the panel, upheld the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, respectively, from the party.”
The BoT further argued that the ruling had far-reaching implications on party decisions, stating: “The implication of today’s judgment by the Supreme Court is that all actions taken by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman, the composition of the national caretaker working committee, and the conduct and outcome of the March 29, 2026 convention in Abuja, are illegal, null, and ab initio void.”
It added that the collapse of both competing leadership structures placed constitutional responsibility on the BoT.
“The consequential invalidation of both the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led as well as the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led working committees directly places the statutory onus of leadership of our great party on the shoulders of the Board of Trustees (BoT) as the second highest organ of the party, pursuant to the express and unambiguous provision of Section 32 (5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).”
Announcing its takeover, the BoT said: “Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility for the national working leadership of the PDP as an immediate constitutional remedial step to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilise, and return the party to good political health.”
The BoT also disclosed plans for an emergency NEC meeting: “In the light of the foregoing, an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), pursuant to the provisions of Section 31 of the Constitution of the PDP, will be summoned to, among other things, appoint an Interim National Working Committee to take charge of the National Secretariat of our party and pilot the affairs of the party at the national level so as to meet all timelines in the Electoral Act, 2026, and ensure that the PDP fields candidates and also emerges victorious in all elective positions in the 2027 general elections.”
It directed party staff to return to work under its supervision: “Consequently, all staff of the PDP are hereby directed to resume at the National Secretariat of the party under the leadership of the BoT ahead of the appointment of the Interim National Working Committee.”
Commending party stakeholders, the BoT stated: “The BoT commends the courage, effort, and resilience of our governors, Governor Bala Mohammed and Governor Seyi Makinde, the National Assembly caucus, the National Ex-officios, the Forum of PDP State Chairmen and State chapters, the Youth and Women Wings, and other organs and bodies in the PDP for standing strong for the party at this trying time.”
It further called for unity: “The BoT therefore calls on all leaders and members of the party to jettison all personal and group interests and come together as one family in the overall interest of our party, democracy, and the wellbeing of millions of Nigerians whose hopes are anchored on the PDP.”
The BoT warned of the consequences of internal division: “The PDP has suffered enough; the painful victims of this unfortunate episode are the Nigerian people. The time has therefore come for us to make sacrifices, sheathe our swords, and embrace genuine reconciliation for lasting peace and chart a new course for our party.”
BoT takes over PDP leadership after Supreme Court verdict