THE Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convened an emergency meeting in Abuja today, bringing together several senior figures within the party.
The gathering, held at the residence of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, was presided over by former Senate President and BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara.
Among those present were Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Minister Tanimu Turaki, and acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
Also in attendance were former PDP Deputy National Chairman Bode George, former Minister of Information Jerry Gana, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, and other notable party leaders.
In his opening address, Wabara described the Court of Appeal’s ruling delivered yesterday as an opportunity for the party to regroup and move forward.
Earlier in the day, the Abdulrahman Mohamed-led caretaker committee addressed the press, stating that the appellate court’s judgment confirmed the committee as the legitimate leadership of the party.
According to the committee, preparations for the PDP’s national convention are continuing as planned, with the event expected to take place later this month.
The meeting follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirming an earlier decision of the Federal High Court that barred the PDP from conducting its national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
In the judgment delivered by a three-member panel, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam dismissed the PDP’s appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja to hear the case.
The court held that the party failed to comply with constitutional requirements governing the conduct of the convention.
It noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not properly notified as required by law.
The panel further ruled that congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states before the convention, a condition stipulated by law.
According to the court, the issues raised in the case could not be dismissed as internal party matters.
It therefore affirmed that the Federal High Court was right to assume jurisdiction and to restrain INEC from recognising or accepting the outcome of the convention.
The court emphasized that adherence to the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and party guidelines is fundamental to democratic governance and must be strictly observed.
