Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, said the Court of Appeal that invalidates the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a challenge for the party leaders and democracy in Nigeria.
Makinde who spoke at an expanded Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP on Wednesday, however said, the party is not bothered, and expressed the hope that PDP will overcome its challenges.
“I have been talking to people of knowledge, people who have been involved in the political evolution of this country, and none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today,” he said.
The governor assured that despite the fact that they are only two PDP governors still in the party, “when the story of democracy in Nigeria is told, they will find us on the side of the people.”
He advised politicians to be conscious of what history is going to record against or in favour them this period.
The governor consoled party members with the Biblical injunction that “weeping may endure for the night, but in the morning, joy cometh.”
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, said the Court of Appeal judgement was orchestrated to shut the party out of 2027 general elections.
Wabara stated that expanded meeting of the board on Tuesday was called to quickly find solution to the court judgement.
The meeting which was attended by the two remaining two governors of the party – Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) members, as well as a Forum of PDP State Chairmen, Wabara explained, was to consider the Appeal Court judgement, describing it as an opportunity for the party to begin all over again.
“The whole idea is to edge us out. But we will find our way, if we have an open mind.
“We should, in these meeting, keep an open mind and see how we can get ourselves back on track,” Wabara advised.
He urged party members to “be very serious with the decisions we are going to arrive at,” adding, “We must work in accordance with the Constitution. And you can never go wrong if you abide by the Constitution and the rule of law.”
The former President of the Senate however assured that PDP will not die, stating, “we will continue to fight.”
The National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, expressed worry at what is happening in the polity, as regards to the PDP.
Turaki said the NWC had strived to keep the hope alive for millions of Nigerians in democracy, since the November 15, 2025 national convention, and to make sure that the fortunes of PDP are increased.
He described the expanded BoT meeting as timely, so that party leaders would sit down and “consider the situation on ground and then come up with workable and implementable options that will save this party and indeed save Nigeria’s democracy.”
The meeting was however, inconclusive as the party leaders resolved to continue on Wednesday.
The National Publicity Secretary, Ini Emembong, who briefed journalists, disclosed that the party was yet to get the certified true copy (CTC) of the Court of Appeal judgement.
Emembong disclosed that party leaders resolved that PDP will be on the ballot in the 2027 general elections, adding that the party’s digital membership registration has already recorded over two million members.
He did not foreclosed reconciliation with the other faction but on principle.
