The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal concerning the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a significant moment for reflection within the party, urging members to put aside personal ambitions and work collectively to resolve internal disputes.
Wike made the remarks on Monday at his residence in Abuja shortly after returning from the Kwali Area Council, where he had continued his ongoing “thank-you tour” across the Federal Capital Territory. The tour, according to the minister, is aimed at expressing appreciation to residents and political stakeholders who supported development initiatives under his leadership.
Speaking to journalists during the interaction, Wike said the appellate court’s decision should serve as a wake-up call for members of the opposition party to examine the root causes of the crisis that has plagued the PDP in recent years. According to him, the judgment presents an opportunity for the party to reflect on its internal disagreements and chart a path toward unity.
“The judgment should make us look inward,” Wike said. “It is time for members of the party to come together, salvage the situation, and move forward in the interest of the party and the country.”
Wike also cautioned party members against escalating the legal battle to the Supreme Court, arguing that further litigation could prolong the PDP’s internal divisions and distract from efforts to rebuild the party.
The minister urged those who genuinely care about the future of the PDP to prioritize reconciliation rather than pursue extended legal confrontation.
“We have fought enough,” he said. “Let us now drop personal interest and think about the survival of the party. If you are a lover of the party, you will not go to the Supreme Court.”
However, Wike acknowledged that some party members may still choose to challenge the ruling. In that case, he said, those involved in the dispute are prepared to continue the legal process if necessary.
“But if that is what they want, we are always ready,” he added.
Addressing concerns surrounding the party’s national convention, Wike reaffirmed that the dates earlier announced by the party’s caretaker leadership remain unchanged.
According to him, preparations for the convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 are already underway, despite the legal controversies that have surrounded previous attempts by the party to hold the event.
He explained that arrangements have been finalized to host the convention in Abuja and that the party has secured the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
“We have gotten the approval of the National Sports Commission to conduct the convention at the Velodrome,” Wike said.
The venue referred to by the minister is the Velodrome facility located within the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The facility is one of the major sporting arenas in the capital city and has hosted several political gatherings and national events in the past.
“We have already started preparations for it,” he said. “By the grace of God, the convention will hold as scheduled.”
The legal dispute that led to the recent appellate ruling originated from a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court of Nigeria on October 31.
In that ruling, Justice James Omotosho restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of a national convention planned by the PDP in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The convention had been scheduled to take place on November 15 and 16, but the court’s order effectively halted the process by preventing the electoral body from validating its results.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the PDP subsequently filed an appeal, arguing that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it involved internal party affairs.
However, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja dismissed the PDP’s appeal in a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices.
In its ruling, the appellate court resolved all four issues raised in the appeal against the PDP, declaring that the challenge lacked merit.
The court affirmed that the Federal High Court acted within its jurisdiction when it delivered the October 31 judgment and granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
The justices rejected the PDP’s argument that the case concerned purely internal party matters that should not be subject to judicial review.
According to the court, the plaintiffs who instituted the suit had the legal standing—known in law as locus standi—to seek judicial intervention in order to protect their democratic rights within the party.
The panel further ruled that the PDP’s claim that it had been denied fair hearing during the earlier proceedings was unfounded.
In addition to dismissing the appeal, the court also imposed a financial penalty on the faction of the PDP that pursued the case.
The appellate court ordered the group—identified in the proceedings as the Turaki faction—to pay N2 million as costs for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal.
Legal analysts say the ruling represents another chapter in the prolonged internal crisis within the PDP, which has been struggling to manage leadership disputes and factional divisions in the aftermath of recent electoral contests.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for the opposition party as it prepares for future political contests.
Observers believe that resolving internal disputes will be critical for the PDP if it hopes to rebuild its organisational structure and strengthen its position in Nigeria’s competitive political landscape.
For Wike, however, the path forward lies not in continued legal battles but in reconciliation and collective commitment to rebuilding the party.
He emphasized that political disagreements are inevitable in a large democratic organisation but warned that prolonged conflict could undermine the party’s credibility among voters.
“The most important thing now is unity,” he said. “Our members must put aside personal ambitions and work together to rebuild the party.”
As preparations continue for the upcoming national convention, party leaders and members are expected to deliberate on the future direction of the PDP.
Many political observers view the convention as an opportunity for the party to resolve lingering leadership disputes, redefine its strategic priorities, and present a united front ahead of future elections.
Wike’s remarks suggest that he sees the appellate court’s ruling not merely as a legal outcome but as a moment for introspection within the party.
Whether PDP stakeholders will heed his call for restraint and unity remains to be seen. But with the convention approaching and internal tensions still simmering, the coming weeks could prove decisive for the future of Nigeria’s main opposition party.
