PDP Says Appeal Court Judgment, Strictly On Osun, Does Not Confer Legitimacy On Turaki Led Faction

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, August 13, 2026, regarding the Party’s participation in the Osun State Governorship Election,

should not be presented as a declaration validating, recognizing or legitimising the Kabiru Turaki led faction as the present or future leadership of the PDP.

The party stated that the judgement was strictly concerned with the nomination of a governorship candidate and does not amount to a judicial endorsement or recognition of any faction as the leadership of the Party.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, following what the Party described as misleading reports and commentaries surrounding the judgment.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, the PDP’s concern is not with the decision of the Court, but with attempts to misrepresent its scope and effect for political purposes, particularly by portraying the judgment as judicial validation of a group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

The Party maintained that the question of its legitimate leadership was separate from the Osun governorship nomination matter and was not among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in the suit that resulted in the Court of Appeal judgment.

It therefore cautioned that the judgment should not be presented as a declaration validating, recognising or legitimising the so-called “Turaki group” as the present or future leadership of the PDP.

The PDP further stated that, according to records at its National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, Governor Ademola Adeleke was the only aspirant who purchased the Party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and was screened and cleared to participate in the governorship primary of December 2, 2025.

The Party noted that notices relating to the primary had already been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 27, 2025, and were signed by the then National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu.

However, the PDP explained that Governor Adeleke subsequently withdrew his aspiration, following the deepening crisis within the Party, leaving the PDP without a candidate for the August 15, 2026 Osun State off-cycle governorship election.

Against this backdrop, the Party raised questions over the process through which any candidate may now be said to have emerged, asking when and under whose authority such a nomination was conducted and when it was submitted to INEC.

The PDP stressed that such factual and procedural questions could not be resolved through political statements, headlines or interpretations of the judgment.

While reaffirming its respect for the judiciary, the Party said that whether the Court of Appeal was right or wrong in its decision remains a matter that can ultimately be determined by the Supreme Court, the apex court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The PDP consequently urged its members, Nigerians and media organisations to distinguish between the litigation concerning the Osun governorship nomination and the separate question of the legitimate leadership of the Party.

The Party also called on the public to disregard claims that the Court of Appeal judgment conferred legitimacy on the Turaki-led group, insisting that attempts to distort the effect of a court judgment would not alter its position that the PDP had weathered its internal challenges and was now focused on rebuilding its structures, strengthening unity and preparing to reclaim power in 2027.