Senior lawyer warns PDP aspirants against purchasing nomination forms amid legal challenges in 2027.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Magaji Mato, warned candidates that purchasing nomination forms from any faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could expose them to legal challenges, following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the party’s leadership dispute.

Mato made the remarks on Friday while appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme.

According to the lawyer, the Supreme Court decision does not recognise any single leadership faction within the PDP, leaving the party’s ownership unclear and making it difficult for any group to claim exclusive control.

He cautioned that aspirants who buy forms under a particular faction do so at their own risk, as rival factions or other political parties may contest the legitimacy of those candidates in court.

Mato suggested that, after the apex court ruling, the PDP Board of Trustees should have convened all aggrieved factions to seek reconciliation before moving forward with party activities.

However, he expressed doubt that such a reconciliation could occur before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for submitting candidates.

He added that any faction operating under the PDP banner without further judicial endorsement may ultimately have to defend its legitimacy in court.

Mato said: “I can guarantee you, going by the judgment of the Supreme Court, there is no any particular leadership of the party as at the time of the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

“If any section or any faction is proving to be the owner of PDP without any other judgment of the court that they are relying on or depending on, as far as the judgment of the Supreme Court is concerned, it cannot salvage any of the opposition.”

“So, if people are going to buy forms under a particular faction, it is their money, but definitely that will be challenged in court by the other faction, or even some other political parties that have contested the general election. They will definitely challenge their legality or the legality of their candidate.”

“They have their reason why they are doing that (selling form). They know probably what they intend to achieve, but if you are to go by the judgment of the Supreme Court, what should have been done is for both sides to come together. The Board of Trustees to gather, call all the warring factions together, and then chat a way forward and move on.”

“Probably if they are able to reconcile, but because of the deadline of INEC, I do not see the possibility of them also doing that, and then fielding candidates that will lawfully or legally contest election.”

“If there is any faction under the name on platform of PDP after the judgment of the Supreme Court with nothing more, then I think maybe they have themselves to contest at the courts.”