Title: PDP Crisis Worsens as Turaki-led Faction Appoints Caretaker Committees Amid Court Battle Date Published: 16 January 2026 Description: The deepening leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn as the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the party announced the appointment of caretaker committees in five states—Delta, Enugu, Imo, Rivers and Osun—despite an ongoing court battle over the party’s national leadership.The development came as the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed January 23 to hear an application seeking a stay of further proceedings in a suit arising from the protracted leadership tussle within the opposition party.In a public notice dated January 15, 2026, and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan, the National Working Committee (NWC), acting on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC), said it approved the caretaker committees pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of the PDP Constitution (2025 as amended).However, party sources and court filings indicate that the NWC referenced in the notice aligns with the faction led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kabiru Turaki, whose authority is currently being challenged in court by a rival faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.The caretaker committees, whose tenure is not expected to exceed 90 days, are tasked with managing party affairs in their respective states pending the election of substantive executive committees.The decision to dissolve existing party structures and install caretaker committees has further heightened tensions within the PDP, coming against the backdrop of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025 pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.The suit was instituted by a PDP faction aligned with Wike, alongside the party’s acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, described as the factional National Secretary. The plaintiffs are seeking, among other reliefs, an order restraining the Turaki-led leadership from parading itself as the authentic leadership of the PDP.They are also asking the court to restrain the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) from granting the Turaki-led faction access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as well as restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or accepting any official address from the faction outside what is already in its records.Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte order directing all parties to maintain the status quo. The Turaki-led faction subsequently challenged the order at the Court of Appeal and filed an application seeking a stay of further proceedings at the trial court, arguing that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to continue hearing the matter following the filing of an appeal.At Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to the Turaki-led faction, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that the appeal against the ex-parte order had been entered and transmitted to the Court of Appeal, urging the court to adjourn the matter sine die. However, counsel to the plaintiffs, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, countered that an interlocutory appeal does not automatically operate as a stay of proceedings.Justice Abdulmalik consequently adjourned the matter to January 23 for the hearing of the motion seeking a stay of proceedings.Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction has also filed a motion asking Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the case, citing alleged bias and insisting that their right to fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) would be compromised if she continues to preside over the matter.Political observers say the appointment of caretaker committees by the Turaki-led faction, while the leadership question remains before the courts, underscores the depth of the crisis within the PDP and raises fresh concerns over the party’s cohesion and preparedness ahead of future electoral contests. Attached Images: cbce97d7e68456b7202862ffec5e30cd9970c18ffc7fb6a251cd306a88286d39.png Attached Video: None