14/08/2026
RESPONSE TO THE PRESS RELEASE ON THE OSUN COURT OF APPEAL JUDGMENT
The statement issued by Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed attempts to dismiss the significance of the Court of Appeal judgment by drawing a distinction between the Osun governorship nomination and the wider PDP leadership dispute.
That distinction is understandable, but it does not answer the fundamental questions raised by the judgment.
1. On the claim that the judgment was “not about PDP leadership”
Nobody needs to misrepresent the judgment as a blanket declaration on every aspect of the PDP leadership dispute.
The real question is simpler: what did the Court actually determine regarding the nomination and the authority under which that nomination was made?
If the Court found that a particular PDP candidate was validly nominated by the NWC led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, then that finding cannot simply be dismissed as meaningless.
A court does not validate a nomination in a vacuum. A party candidate must emanate from a legally recognizable party process conducted by persons or organs with the requisite authority.
Therefore, the judgment must be read carefully in its entirety—not reduced to a convenient headline.
2. On the allegation of “misleading reports”
The easiest way to defeat what you describe as misleading reports is to publish the certified judgment and identify the exact portions of the judgment that support your interpretation.
Instead of accusing others of deliberately misleading Nigerians, let the judgment speak for itself.
Courts speak through their orders and judgments, not through political press releases.
If your interpretation is correct, the operative portions of the judgment will establish it.
If our interpretation is correct, the same judgment will equally establish it.
That is why the certified judgment—not propaganda from either side—must remain the reference point.
3. On the claim that the judgment endorsed no particular leadership
Again, nobody should claim more than the judgment actually decided.
But equally, nobody should claim less.
If the Court recognised the validity of a nomination made by a particular NWC, the legal basis and authority of that NWC necessarily became relevant to the determination before the Court.
You cannot simultaneously rely on a court’s recognition of an act performed by an organ of the party and then insist that the identity and authority of that organ are completely irrelevant.
The two issues may be legally distinct, but they are certainly not unrelated.
4. On the assertion that the PDP leadership question has been “settled”
This is precisely where the argument becomes problematic.
If the matter is truly settled beyond dispute, then there should be no difficulty identifying the exact judgment, suit number, date, parties and operative orders upon which that conclusion rests.
We should stop saying “it is settled” without showing Nigerians what exactly was ordered.
The PDP is a constitutional institution. Its leadership cannot be determined by repetition, press releases or social-media declarations.
Show the order. Let Nigerians read it.
5. On the claim that only Governor Adeleke purchased forms
This argument requires careful examination.
The question before the Court was not simply who purchased a form at Wadata Plaza under a particular administrative arrangement.
The crucial question is whether the court found that a valid nomination existed and whether the person or organ responsible for that nomination had the authority recognised by the court.
If the Court has made a determination on that question, political actors cannot replace that judicial finding with their own version of events.
6. On the October 27, 2025 notice to INEC
You state that notices were submitted to INEC under the then leadership of Ambassador Umar Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Fine.
Then the next question is:
What happened subsequently, and what legal effect did the Court of Appeal attribute to the later nomination process?
Political chronology does not automatically determine legal validity.
Courts examine the applicable law, the facts presented before them, the powers of the relevant party organs, and the reliefs sought.
That is why the actual judgment must be examined rather than selectively relying on events that occurred before the dispute developed.
7. On the claim that Governor Adeleke withdrew
If Governor Adeleke withdrew his aspiration, that is a matter capable of documentary verification.
But the withdrawal of one aspirant does not, by itself, answer the separate legal question of whether a subsequent nomination was validly made.
The Court has now spoken on the particular dispute that came before it.
The appropriate response is therefore to study the judgment and, if any party believes the Court erred, pursue the available appellate remedies.
8. On the questions: Who nominated the candidate? When? Under whose authority?
These are legitimate questions.
But they are questions for the record and the courts, not for political speculation.
If the Court has already answered them, then the answer should be taken directly from the judgment.
If the Court has not answered them, then the parties remain entitled to challenge or clarify those issues through the appropriate legal process.
What cannot happen is for one side to ask questions and then declare its own preferred answers without engaging with the court’s findings.
9. On the statement that the Court of Appeal may be right or wrong
On this point, we agree.
No political party is above the law, and no judgment is above appeal where the law permits an appeal.
If the PDP believes the Court of Appeal erred, it has every right to approach the Supreme Court.
But until that happens, the judgment of the Court of Appeal remains a judicial decision that must be respected.
You cannot respect the judiciary only when the judgment favours you.
10. On the repeated claim that the judgment has nothing to do with the Turaki-led NWC
This is where the statement contradicts itself.
Your release repeatedly mentions the Turaki-led NWC, yet insists that the court’s finding concerning a nomination made by that NWC has no relevance whatsoever to questions concerning its authority.
If an organ of the party performed the act that the court was asked to examine, the legal status and authority of that organ cannot simply be wished away.
Again, we are not saying the judgment necessarily resolves every aspect of the national leadership dispute.
We are saying that its findings cannot be selectively interpreted to suit one political narrative.
11. On the accusation of “wishful thinking”
Political language will not change a court judgment.
Calling one side a “group,” a “faction,” or a group engaged in “wishful thinking” does not answer the legal questions.
Neither does calling the other side “legitimate” make it so.
Legitimacy comes from law, constitution, valid party processes and binding judicial decisions—not adjectives in press statements.
12. On the claim that the PDP is rebuilding
Every genuine PDP member should want the party rebuilt.
But rebuilding the PDP requires truth, reconciliation, internal democracy and respect for lawful processes.
It cannot be achieved by pretending that outstanding disagreements do not exist.
The PDP does not need another propaganda war. It needs institutions that members can trust.
13. The central issue
Let us therefore stop confusing PDP members and Nigerians.
Nobody should use the Osun judgment to claim that every question surrounding PDP leadership has been finally determined.
But equally, nobody should attempt to erase the significance of the judgment simply because it produces consequences that are politically inconvenient.
The judgment should be read exactly as delivered.
Not expanded.
Not reduced.
Not distorted.
14. Our position
We respect the judiciary.
We respect the Court of Appeal.
We respect the right of every party to appeal.
But we will not accept the selective interpretation of judicial pronouncements.
If there is an error in the judgment, challenge it at the appropriate court.
If there is an order, obey it.
If there is a constitutional question, answer it with the Constitution.
If there is a legal question, answer it with the law.
And if there is a dispute, let the courts determine it.
The PDP is bigger than every individual, every faction and every temporary political arrangement.
What the party needs now is not more propaganda, insults or competing press releases.
It needs truth, constitutionalism, internal democracy, justice and respect for the rule of law.
Let the judgment speak.
Let the law prevail.
Let the PDP survive.
Power to the People!