The PDP maintains it has a stable leadership structure in place

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has categorically denied rumors of a power vacuum within its leadership, following the Supreme Court's judgment on Thursday, affirming Abdulrahman Mohammed as the party's legitimate national chairman.

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According to the National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the apex court's ruling specifically addressed the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention, leaving the current National Working Committee (NWC) unaffected, as stated during a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

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Mohammed clarified that the Supreme Court judgment solely focused on nullifying the illegal Ibadan Convention and dismissing the appeal filed by the Turaki-led purported NWC for lacking merit, without touching on the suspension or expulsion of any party officer.

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The judgment, Mohammed explained, did not consider the issue of suspension or expulsion, as it was never presented before the Federal High Court or any higher court, and therefore, was not a part of the questions for determination at any level of adjudication.

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The Supreme Court, he noted, only examined the validity of the November 15 and 16 Ibadan Convention, and throughout the judgment, there was no mention of suspending or expelling any party officer.

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Mohammed emphasized that the PDP has always had a clear leadership structure, with Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, leaving no room for an interim takeover by any authority.

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He accused a rejected group of attempting to distort the facts of the Supreme Court judgment to mislead the public and garner sympathy, stressing that the judgment is a public document accessible to anyone.

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The party spokesperson also rejected claims of a takeover by the Board of Trustees (BoT), citing the PDP Constitution, which does not grant the BoT the power to assume the functions of the NWC or take over party leadership.

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Mohammed specifically criticized Sen. Adolphus Wabara, whose tenure as Chairman of the Board of Trustees had expired, for claiming to represent the party, and instead, recognized Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa as the legitimate leader of the BoT.

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Mohammed warned Wabara to cease making statements on behalf of the PDP, as such actions would no longer be tolerated within the party.

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He cautioned the media against reporting the party as factionalized, emphasizing that the group led by Turaki and Wabara is not recognized, and urged the public and the media to rely on truth and legality, as there are no factions in the PDP.