PDP Calls for Action Against Lawyers Over Court Ruling Dispute

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to take action against lawyers who misrepresent facts about a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the party’s leadership fight.

The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, made this call in a statement on Saturday to explain their stance on the court's decision.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier that the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal from a faction of the PDP led by Kabiru Turaki. Turaki is a former minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs in President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

The Turaki faction wanted the court to declare it as the real leadership of the party and confirm that the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025 was done according to the PDP constitution.

But on Wednesday, a three-member panel of the court, led by Uchechukwu Onyemenam, ruled that the issue of the convention had already been decided by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had nullified the convention and its results.

The court stated that the matter had become “academic.” This means there was no live issue left needing court judgment, as events had moved beyond the dispute.

Since the ruling was announced, both factions have given different views on the judgment.

The Turaki faction, represented by lawyer Ini Ememobong, argued that the ruling confirmed the suspension of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee (NWC). They also said it nullified an earlier judgment from the Federal High Court in Ibadan that declared the 2025 national convention invalid.

In response, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accused the other faction of twisting the court’s decision to mislead the public.

Spokesperson Mr Mohammed said this misrepresentation is a form of contempt of court and should be addressed.

He called on the LPDC and the NBA to look into any lawyers who distort the appellate court’s ruling on the party’s leadership issue.

“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are urged to act by investigating lawyers who misrepresent court judgments. They use their professional status to spread falsehoods that could damage the legal profession,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also asked security agencies and regulatory bodies to investigate the source and intention behind the distortion of the judgment and to take the right actions according to the law.

He insisted that the court’s ruling must be respected and accurately represented.

“The judiciary is the last hope for the common man. Its decisions must be respected, accurately represented, and protected from manipulation by those seeking political gain. Deliberate misrepresentation of court judgments is a serious threat to the rule of law and the trustworthiness of our democratic institutions.

“The relevant security and regulatory agencies are also urged to quickly look into these issues and take all necessary actions according to the law. No one, regardless of status or professional standing, should be allowed to misrepresent the decisions of a competent court without facing consequences,” Mr Mohammed said.