By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

The Sen. Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has assumed leadership of the party, following Thursday’s judgment by the Supreme Court.

The BoT, in statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that the constitutional intervention by the BoT was to avert leadership vacuum at the national level of the party, following the apex court judgment.

It said the action was taken, pursuant to the empowering provisions of the Constitution of the party (as amended in 2017).

The BoT, however, expressed the regret that the Supreme Court delivered an ‘unpleasant judgment’ against the party by invalidating the November 2025 Ibadan convention which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.

It added that the apex court also upheld the suspension of Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, Umar Bature as National Organisng Secretary and Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Legal Adviser.

According to the BoT, the implication of the Supreme Court judgment is that all actions taken by Anyanwu, Bature and Ajibade were illegal, null and, ab initio, void.

It listed the actions to include the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting National Chairman, the composition of the National Caretaker Working Committee and the conduct and outcome of the national convention held on March 29 in Abuja.

“The consequential invalidation of both the 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 BoT as the Second Highest Organ of the party.

“This is pursuant to the express and unambiguous provision of Section 32 (5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

“Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility of the national working leadership of the PDP as immediate constitutional remedial steps to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilise and return the party to good political health,” the statement said.

Consequently, the BoT said that an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), pursuant to the provisions of Section 31 of the PDP Constitution, would be summoned.

It said that the meeting, among other things, would appoint an interim NWC to take charge of the national secretariat of the party and pilot its affairs at the national level.

This, according to the BoT, is to meet all the timeline in the Electoral Act, 2026 and ensure that PDP not only fields candidates but also emerges victorious in all elective positions in the 2027 general elections.

“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 NWC,” it added.

BoT commended the courage, efforts and resilience of Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo as well as leaders, organs and bodies in the PDP for standing strong for the party at the trying time.

It called on all leaders and members of PDP to jettison all personal and group interests, and come together as one family in the overall interest of democracy and millions of Nigerians whose hope were anchored on the party.

“PDP has suffered enough; the painful victims of this unfortunate episode is the Nigerian people.

“The time has therefore come for us to make sacrifices, sheathe our swords and embrace genuine reconciliations for lasting peace and chart a new course for our party,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed BoT, on its part, said that with the Supreme Court judgment, the Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed-NWC remained the leadership of the party.

The BoT, in a separate statement by its Chairman, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, said that the apex court simply affirmed the earlier decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal nullifying the Ibadan national convention.

Ohuabunwa said that as the conscience and the moral compass of the party, the BOT fully respected and accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“Consequently, the legal position remains clear and unambiguous: the said Ibadan convention stands nullified, and any structure emanating therefrom has no legal foundation.

“Accordingly, the leadership structure of the party under Mohammed – National Chairman, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary remains the valid and stabilising authority to guide the affairs of the party at the national level.

“The party remains fully functional and will continue to operate through its recognised organs, in line with the constitution of out party (as amended in 2017),” he said.

Ohuabunwa said that necessary constitutional steps would be taken, as appropriate, to further strengthen the party’s unity, stability and preparedness for upcoming electoral engagements.

He called on all party members to remain focused, united and committed.

The BoT chairman also advised NWC to immediately constitute a National Reconciliation Committee to reach out to all aggrieved members of the party across the country.

“This is a moment for discipline, loyalty and collective commitment to the ideals and future of the party,” Ohuabunwa said. (NAN)

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