A faction of Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, says it will appeal a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court in Ibadan, a major city in Oyo State in south west Nigeria, after the court declined to grant its request for an order of mandamus.
The group said the judgment, delivered on Friday, 30 January 2026, did not come as a surprise, arguing that it has a legal path to pursue the matter further at the appellate level.
In Nigeria, a mandamus order is a court directive that can compel a public office holder or institution to carry out a duty required by law. In this case, the court held that granting the request would be like “sitting on appeal” over decisions of courts of equal authority, and it refused the application on that basis.
In a statement shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the Turaki-led faction had already instructed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal and take all necessary legal steps to protect its position. Okay News reports that the faction also told members and supporters not to panic, insisting that the legal fight is far from over.
The statement said the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction, which it said emerged from an Ibadan convention, remains “legally intact and unshaken,” while it awaits what it described as the final and authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.
It added that members should remain calm and committed, saying there was “absolutely no cause for alarm,” and that its “rebirth movement” remains on course.
The latest court decision is part of continuing disputes within the PDP, one of Nigeria’s major political parties, over leadership and recognition of competing factions. Several groups within the party have been seeking legal backing to strengthen their claims and gain acceptance as the legitimate leadership.
As the case moves to the appeal courts, party members and political observers are expected to watch closely for a ruling that could influence the PDP’s internal direction ahead of future political activities.
