The Peoples Democratic Party's interim leadership, led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. The private meeting marked a significant consultation for the opposition party since a Federal High Court ruling on a case brought by the party's Board of Trustees.
Neither the PDP nor Jonathan's office revealed what was discussed at the residence meeting in the Federal Capital Territory. However, sources close to the party said the delegation briefed the former president on a court judgment and sought his guidance on resolving the party's leadership crisis.
The Federal High Court had days earlier struck out a lawsuit filed by the PDP Board of Trustees seeking recognition of Turaki's interim National Working Committee. The court upheld objections from the Independent National Electoral Commission and other defendants.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to file the case and that the court had no jurisdiction. "The court does not decide hypothetical or academic questions," the judge said, noting that INEC had already monitored the party convention that produced the rival leadership the electoral body recognizes.
The judge also determined that the suit attempted to revisit matters already settled in earlier proceedings. He struck the case from the docket without entertaining the substantive claims.
An insider familiar with the Jonathan meeting told Sunday Vanguard the discussions focused on what the judgment means for the party moving forward. "The delegation briefed the former president on the outcome of the case and sought his views on the way forward for the party," the source explained.
The party did not disclose the names of other delegation members or issue any statement following the meeting. Turaki led the team himself.
The consultation underscores growing pressure on the PDP to stabilize its fractured leadership structure. The opposition party faces mounting legal and political challenges as it prepares for future elections and attempts to resolve its internal disputes.
