Fresh controversy has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following allegations that some lawyers and political actors deliberately distorted a recent Court of Appeal judgment in a bid to fuel the party’s leadership crisis.
The PDP on Friday called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate and discipline legal practitioners accused of circulating what it described as false interpretations of the appellate court’s ruling.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP expressed concern over what it called a coordinated campaign to mislead the public regarding the legal status of its National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the party, the Court of Appeal neither nullified the PDP leadership structure nor invalidated the caretaker arrangement from which the current NWC emerged. Rather, it maintained that the appeal in question was dismissed because it had become academic and sought to reopen issues already settled by higher courts.
The opposition party accused certain lawyers of presenting conclusions that were not contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment, warning that such actions threaten public confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law.
“The judgment speaks for itself and leaves no room for the misleading narratives currently being circulated,” the party stated.
The PDP further rejected claims that the appellate court made pronouncements affecting specific party leaders, insisting that no such declarations were contained in the ruling.
Beyond seeking professional sanctions, the party urged security agencies to investigate what it described as manipulated excerpts of the judgment being circulated on social media. It argued that any attempt to doctor court documents or misrepresent judicial decisions should attract legal consequences.
The development highlights growing tensions within the PDP as rival factions continue to battle for control of the party ahead of future political contests.
The party also appealed to media organisations to exercise greater caution in reporting court matters, stressing the need for journalists and editors to verify legal documents before publication.
Reaffirming its confidence in the judiciary, the PDP described the courts as the last safeguard of justice and democracy, warning that unchecked misinformation surrounding judicial decisions could deepen political divisions and weaken trust in democratic institutions.
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