The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Court of Appeal to resolve the ongoing leadership conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with fairness and adherence to due process, warning that the ruling could determine the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the civil rights group said the appellate court has “the opportunity of a lifetime” to issue a judgment that is just, transparent, and capable of rebuilding the PDP or, if mishandled, could effectively undermine the party’s existence.
“HURIWA is convinced that the Court of Appeal of Nigeria has the chance to deliver a decision in the leadership contest within the PDP that would be fair, just, and equitable. The Nigerian public and civil society are closely watching to see the outcome when the panel invites the contending politicians back for judgment,” the statement read.
The group highlighted that the ruling carries two potential paths: one, a well-considered and transparent judgment that could strengthen the party and preserve its role as a credible opposition; or two, a verdict favoring the faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, which could weaken or effectively dismantle the party, according to HURIWA.
“Millions of Nigerians expect that justice will not be used to deliver the PDP into the hands of political loyalists of the executive,” the group said, adding that the judiciary’s independence has come under public scrutiny in recent months following reports of housing allocations to judges in the Federal Capital Territory.
The warning comes as the Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in nine appeals filed by the feuding PDP factions. The appeals relate to earlier decisions by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had restrained the party from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, citing non-compliance with legal requirements.
The suits were brought by aggrieved party members, including Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who claimed he was denied the right to contest the party chairmanship.
At the appellate hearing, lawyers to the appellants, including Chris Uche (SAN), asked the court to overturn the Federal High Court rulings, while the respondents’ legal team, including Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to uphold them.
HURIWA emphasized that the judgment must safeguard Nigeria’s democratic values. “We expect that justice should not only be done but must be seen to have been done,” Onwubiko said, warning that a verdict perceived as politically motivated could mark the “existential end” of the PDP and weaken the country’s opposition landscape.
The civil society group called on the judiciary to prioritize transparency, fairness, and the democratic interests of millions of Nigerians who look to the PDP as a critical check on the ruling party.
With the Court of Appeal yet to announce the date for delivering the reserved judgments, the nation remains on edge, aware that the verdict could either stabilize or shake the foundations of Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Appellate Court ruling could make or break Nigeria’s PDP future -HURIWA
