PDP in Turmoil: Court Battles, More High-Profile Exits, and Fintiri’s APC Tease Rock the Opposition
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a “perfect storm” of judicial uncertainty and internal bleeding. On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the party’s foundation was shaken by a high-stakes Appeal Court hearing in Abuja, a wave of strategic resignations in the South-West, and a cryptic defection hint from one of its most prominent Northern governors.
PDP Elective Congress in Ibadan, November 2025
1. The Ibadan Convention on Trial
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, has begun reviewing eight appeals that could effectively decapitate the current PDP leadership. The core issue? Whether the November 2025 National Convention in Ibadan was legally valid.
With the Wike-aligned faction boycotting the event and multiple Federal High Courts issuing conflicting restraining orders at the time, the appellate court must now decide if the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) is a legitimate body or a “legal house of cards.”
2. The South-West Exodus: Ilaka and Ayoola Quit
The party’s influence in Oyo State has taken a massive hit. Chief Bisi Ilaka, the former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, formally resigned from the PDP on Tuesday, February 10. His exit follows that of Senator Agboola Ayoola (Alleluyah), signaling a deepening rift within the regional power structure. Ilaka’s departure is particularly stinging given his deep ties to the Makinde administration and his long-standing grassroots support in Oyo East.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri
3. Governor Fintiri’s APC “Riddle”
In the North, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has sent shockwaves through the opposition by refusing to rule out a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Addressing the “political merchants” fueling rumors, Fintiri stated:
“If that is the wish of my people, I will not object because politics is all about the people… I am coming with value, prosperity, and strength to add to wherever we are going.”
While he maintains that he remains focused on human capital development in Adamawa, his “wherever we are going” remark has many analysts convinced an Aso Rock-backed switch is imminent.
Abdullahi El-Rasheed (Bala Kelly) defects to the APC from the PDP
4. Gombe Lawmaker Balts to APC
Adding to the PDP’s woes, Abdullahi El-Rasheed (Bala Kelly), representing the Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, has officially dumped the PDP for the APC. Presenting his new membership card to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in Abuja, El-Rasheed cited President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda as the primary catalyst for his switch.
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