The crisis within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, as 11 of the 17 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) publicly rejected the appointment of J.Y. Musa as the party’s legal representative. Musa, who is said to have strong ties with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was appointed by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Damagum, to represent the PDP at the Appeal and Supreme Courts.

On January 21, 2025, these 11 NWC members sent a petition to both courts, requesting that the appointment of Musa be disregarded. They argued that the appointment was not authorized by the party’s constitution. According to Article 42 of the PDP constitution, only the National Legal Adviser has the authority to appoint an external solicitor to represent the party, not the Acting National Chairman.

The NWC members urged the courts to reject the representation of J.Y. Musa and any other individual appointed by Damagum without following the correct procedures. This new development in the ongoing internal struggles of the PDP marks a significant turn in the party’s leadership conflict.

The disagreement underscores the growing tensions within the PDP, as different factions continue to vie for control of the party’s direction and decision-making processes. The party’s internal issues may impact its ability to effectively challenge its political rivals in upcoming elections.