Makinde, Bala, Wabara, Others Hold Emergency Meeting
•••As PDP BOT, NEC Meet On Sunday, Monday
•••BOT Says Supreme Court Judgment Leave PDP Without Recognized Leadership
•By Admin
ABUJA — GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara and other members of the board, National Executive Committee (NEC) members, National Assembly Caucus and State Chairmen on Thursday had an emergency meeting shortly after the Supreme Court gave its judgment.
The Supreme Court judgment had in its judgment nullified the national convention that brought the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the BoT National Secretary and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, noted that the Supreme Court judgment has clearly left the party without any recognized leadership.
He said: “We’re going to have a BOT meeting on Sunday and the NEC meeting on Monday, but most importantly, today the meeting has confirmed what our Constitution has provided—that in a case, particularly in the situation we are in, where the judgment in an ordinary sense would have said we were now without an National Working Committee, in situations like that, by our constitutional provision, the BOT will have to take over. And the BOT has taken over the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party. And as a party that has, since its inception in 1998, always been concerned with the welfare and the security of Nigerians.
“We have taken the judgment from the Supreme Court as it should be. We are very happy that the Supreme Court has come clearly on this matter. And with the situation that we are in, the judgment has already, as you all know and I believe, dismissed the appeal filed by the Tanimu Turaki, against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the elective national convention that was held in November 2025.
“And also, this means the cross-appeal by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and his team to uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, Senator Anyanwu, and others.
“The interpretation of this judgment, therefore, clearly leaves the party without any recognized leadership, as both groups previously laying claims to the leadership have been divested of all interests by this judgment. We cannot, therefore, in good conscience, allow the party to become leaderless and rudderless and without direction.
“We have the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara to assume control, a move we are not opposed to, as we all collectively know that that is what the Constitution provides.
“So decisions will be taken by the BOT, as I have already informed you. There will be the meeting on Sunday of the BOT and the NEC meeting on Monday, and the affairs of the party will continue.
“But most importantly, we are also making sure that we reconcile with everybody that is part of this party. We want everybody who, for one reason or the other, had left the party to really come back into the fold, now that the situation has been sorted out.
“Therefore, we ask all our members to remain steadfast, trusting that we will take decisions in the best interest of the survival of our party, not as an appendage of the All Progressives Congress. We are not an extension of any party.
“We are the Peoples Democratic Party. We know that democracy thrives when there is a vibrant and capable opposition, which aligns with the wishes and interests of the people, not necessarily with the government.”
The BoT assured that it will do its best to ensure that the party not only survives, but that it presents candidates for elections in 2027.
It said: “Soon, after extensive consultation with other members of the BOT who are not necessarily here, and other critical stakeholders, we will announce the action plan. We know that we don’t have the time, but we will work assiduously to ensure that everybody who wants to contest under PDP is given that chance to do it.
“Therefore, all those who have given up, who have lost hope—Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. 240 million people cannot be subjected to a one-party state, and therefore, PDP will fill that gap. We are talking to all opposition leaders. Many of you are aware of our presence in Ibadan and some of the decisions we have taken. We will also continue to see the implementation of the major parts of those decisions.”
Asked if Supreme mention the suspension of Ajibade, Anyanwu and others, the BoT said, “we are a law-abiding party. The CTC will come out by Monday, Insha Allah, and everybody will know the actual position. I know that there are confusionists who are giving some false information.
“But, yes, the suspension of those principal officers who have galvanized the other section has been reaffirmed by the judgment. Therefore, every action taken by suspended people, which has been reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, we believe they can understand that situation.”
Asked if their meeting will hold at the Wadata plaza, the BoT said, “we are not going to start fighting people. I told you, we want to reconcile with everybody. We are a family.
“We know that families may have some misunderstandings, but you don’t simply escalate the situation. For us now, we are going out of our way to ensure that all those who, for one reason or the other, feel aggrieved, their situation will be ameliorated, and they will come back to the party. And we have no case with anybody.
“We have no issue with anybody outside there. The Supreme Court—that is why we say it is the court of last resort. You can go anywhere, you can argue, you can report to wherever you want, but at the end of it, the Supreme Court has spoken, and we will follow the processes to ensure that the PDP stands as one party.
“The other lower court issues will be taken based on the foundation set by the Supreme Court. So we will look at the issues and see whether we need to withdraw or allow things to go the normal way.”
•INDEPENDENTNG.