By Philip Yatai
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has welcomed the Court of Appeal judgment voiding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention held in Ibadan on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2025.
The appellate court ruled on Monday that the party acted wrongly by proceeding with the convention in spite of a subsisting court order directing compliance with conditions set by the Federal High Court.
Reacting in Abuja, Wike described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law and urged party members to abandon egos, halt litigation and embrace reconciliation.
He warned that pursuing the matter to the Supreme Court could harm the party, especially with political party primaries scheduled for April and May.
“By the time you go to the Supreme Court, you are merely causing harm to your party which you say you love.
“It is time now to say we have fought, let us drop our personal interest and make sure PDP becomes the number one opposition party,” he said.
Wike urged aggrieved members to see the judgment as an opportunity to reconcile and chart a new path for the party.
“For me, it is an opportunity for everybody to come back and see how we can salvage the party.
“Leave your ego and personal interest. Come back and let us sit down and figure out how we can move forward together,” Wike said.
He said the court’s dismissal of several appeals with heavy costs highlighted the need to comply with statutory provisions, the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
According to him, breaches of those laws meant the issue could no longer be treated as an internal party affair, making judicial intervention inevitable.
Wike added that the ruling nullified the Ibadan convention and confirmed that the tenure of the previous party officers had expired.
He said the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee remained the legally recognised body managing the party’s affairs to prevent a leadership vacuum.
The minister also confirmed that preparations were underway for a fresh National Convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 in Abuja. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
