Wike-backed Oyo PDP asks Kabiru Turaki faction to seek reconciliation

Wike-backed Oyo PDP asks Kabiru Turaki faction to seek reconciliation

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has asked the Kabiru Turaki-led national working committee (NWC) to pursue reconciliation.

Abdulrahman Akinoso, chairman of the PDP caretaker committee backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made the remarks while reacting to the high court judgment nullifying the party’s national convention which held in the state on November 15, 2025.

In a ruling on Friday, Uche Agomoh, the presiding judge, declined the Turaki-led PDP’s request for an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the national convention.

Agomoh barred the Turaki-led NWC from parading itself as the party’s leadership, noting that the convention was organised in flagrant disregard of court orders.

The judge ruled that PDP cannot disobey court orders and then approach the court to seek judicial approval for actions taken in defiance of those orders.

The judge further held that the PDP can only operate through the caretaker committee until a proper and lawful national convention is held.

However, Turaki, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), criticised the verdict, saying the judge granted reliefs that were neither requested nor argued by any of the parties.

Turaki said the party has filed a notice of appeal as well as a motion for stay of execution of the verdict.

In a statement, Akinoso asked the Turaki faction to “seek reconciliation rather than pursuing a futile legal battle”.

“The PDP remains committed to unity and democratic principles,” the statement reads.

In November 2025, a faction of the party backed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo; and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi; convened a national convention in Ibadan and elected a new set of national officers.

The convention was preceded by a series of conflicting court judgments, with some rulings from federal high courts in Abuja halting the event over alleged breaches of party constitution and electoral laws, while the Oyo state high court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed with the exercise and directed INEC to monitor it.

A group of party members led by Wike, who opposed the convention, would later form a parallel NWC, a board of trustees (BoT), and a national executive committee (NEC).

In December, INEC rejected the request to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, citing multiple court verdicts.