Wike dismisses Turaki-led PDP's Supreme Court appeal as lacking merit

Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party's decision to appeal the Court of Appeal judgment on the party's leadership at the Supreme Court, labeling the move as baseless and ineffective.

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Wike made this statement on Friday night, following an inspection of the Valodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, which is set to host the PDP National Convention on March 29 and 30.

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The Tanimu Turaki-led National Executive Committee had unanimously ratified the decision to appeal the appellate court judgment, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

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According to Wike, the planned national convention will proceed as scheduled, with efforts to resolve internal disputes continuing afterwards, as he emphasized the importance of the party's overall interest.

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Wike noted that in any large group, grievances are inevitable, and the party will work to understand and accommodate the concerns of its members, highlighting the party's ability to accommodate everyone under its wide umbrella.

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The minister expressed confidence that the PDP would demonstrate its strength in the 2027 general elections, showcasing its large and unified membership.

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Wike confirmed that the party has already allocated positions across zones, with the presidency zoned to the South and the chairmanship zoned to the North, aiming to make the process easier through a consensus arrangement.

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This zoning arrangement marks a departure from the usual "unity list" that often reflects internal divisions, as the party presents a unified front for the first time.

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Wike's visit to the stadium was to assess the final arrangements for the convention, which is about 95 percent ready, with seating arrangements for all states completed and the VIP section ready.

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Accompanying Wike on the visit were several key party officials, including Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, and Mohammed Abdulrahman, as well as other members of the National Caretaker Working Committee.

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Additional attendees included Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, and Chibudom Nwuche, all of whom played a role in the convention preparations.