PDP Leadership Tussle: ‘Supreme Court Will Have The Last Say’ — Ememobong

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that Nigeria’s apex court will ultimately determine the outcome of the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the party, insisting that it has already approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria for a final resolution.
In a press statement issued on Monday, March 30, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, reassured members and supporters that despite recent developments, the party remains committed to due process and the rule of law.
“With the series of disturbing activities occurring in succession within the last 48 hours, genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party across the country have expressed their concerns and are asking what the future holds for the party and our country’s democracy, by extension,” Ememobong said.
He, however, assured that the party had taken decisive legal steps, noting: “We reassure that we have taken this battle to the Supreme Court for the determination of all the issues relating to the leadership of our party, particularly as it relates to what constitutes an internal affair.”
According to him, the PDP has already filed the necessary processes before the apex court and served all parties involved. “With this appeal and the relevant concomitant applications filed and served on all the parties involved, we are hopeful that sooner, rather than later, the apex court will, in the interest of democracy, expeditiously hear and adjudicate on this matter,” he stated.
The party also took a swipe at what it described as an illegitimate gathering allegedly organised by rival interests within its fold. Ememobong described the event as “the pre-Easter jamboree of APC sympathisers and members of ‘Wike’s Autocratic Party’, which they mischievously tagged a PDP convention.”
He further alleged that the gathering was conducted in violation of ongoing legal proceedings. “For the avoidance of doubt, we state that… [it] was held in contempt of the Court of Appeal, where parties had entered appearances and agreed with the Court on the way to proceed with the matter, only to turn around and undertake acts capable of destroying the res,” he said.
Ememobong added that those involved had already been served with court processes. “They were served with the processes of the appeal at the Supreme Court, as well as other suits challenging the holding of the said convention. The validity of that gathering is now a matter before the court, which we will diligently follow to its conclusion.”
The PDP spokesperson also reacted to a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Abdulmalik, which reportedly granted access to the party’s national secretariat to a rival faction.
He said the outcome was not unexpected. “The Federal High Court, Abuja… expectedly delivered judgment this morning in favour of the Wike-backed APC apologists, granting them access to the PDP secretariat and directing security agencies to offer them protection while in occupation of the said secretariat,” Ememobong stated.
He disclosed that the party had immediately activated its legal response. “In response, we have directed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and other relevant applications against this judgment,” he added.
While acknowledging the gravity of the crisis, Ememobong described the situation as part of a broader challenge facing opposition politics in Nigeria. “On the whole, we must admit what is already public knowledge—these are very trying times for us, the PDP, and all opposition parties in Nigeria,” he said.
He went further to accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the crisis. “These crises are clearly orchestrated by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government, who have shown morbid fear for the existence of alternative political platforms, and are determined to foist a one-party state on the country,” he alleged.
According to him, the alleged actions of the ruling party stem from fears of electoral backlash. “This fear is fuelled by their knowledge of the impending rejection Nigerians are waiting to serve them because of their abysmal performance in core governance issues like security, the economy, and social welfare,” Ememobong said.
He, however, called for calm among party faithful and Nigerians at large, expressing optimism that the judiciary would uphold democratic principles.
“We urge our members and all Nigerians to keep hope alive in the sincere expectation that the apex court will come to the rescue of multi-party democracy in the appeal before them,” he stated.
Ememobong concluded by placing historic responsibility on the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court now has the historic opportunity to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its earlier decisions on the jurisdiction of courts in internal affairs of political parties, when it has its final say.”
The PDP leadership crisis has continued to generate tension within the party, with multiple court cases and factions laying claim to its structure, setting the stage for what may become a landmark legal battle at the nation’s highest court.