Following last week's ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared its intention to seek redress at the Supreme Court. The opposition faction maintained that it would weather ongoing political machinations to resolve the prolonged leadership tussle facing the platform.
On Saturday, the leadership of the faction made its position known when members of the Forum of Governorship Candidates for the upcoming 2027 polls paid a solidarity visit to the National Chairman of the camp, Dr Tanimu Turaki, in Abuja. The meeting followed the appellate court's decision on Wednesday, which upheld previous Federal High Court judgments that de-recognised the Turaki-led interim administration.
What is the legal standing of the faction?
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) currently does not recognize the INWC, relying instead on the judgments to back an alternative National Working Committee chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed and supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike. Consequently, the Turaki-led camp does not currently feature on the electoral commission's candidate lists for the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the delegation, Turaki revealed that the faction's legal advisers are reviewing the appellate court's verdict to prepare an appeal for the apex court. He insisted that the interim leadership remains the legitimate custodian of the party, having duly processed and submitted candidate particulars to the electoral umpire.
"For us, whatever we are doing is to ensure that the only surviving legacy party in Nigeria, which is the People’s Democratic Party, does not go down," Turaki stated during the interactive session.
What did the governorship candidates demand?
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum and Plateau State governorship candidate, Hon. Sunday Biggs, explained that the delegation visited to express backing for the INWC and to encourage robust legal and reconciliation strategies ahead of the polls. The candidates urged the leadership to pursue the Supreme Court appeal diligently while improving communication channels to curb misinformation among grassroots members.
The delegation comprised several state flagbearers, including Ladi Hassan (Kwara), Joel Danlami (Taraba), Caleb Andrew Myebangara (Adamawa), Isah Muqaddam (Gombe), Lawal Umar (Kaduna), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kebbi), Yakubu Mu’azu (Jigawa), and Zanna Gaddama (Borno).
Turaki reassured the candidates of ultimate success in the courts, expressing confidence that opposition supporters would have a platform to participate actively in the 2027 electoral cycle once legal hurdles are cleared.