The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised strong concerns over what it describes as the “deepening chaos” within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following a series of conflicting court rulings and the controversial conduct of the party’s 2026 National Convention.
According to the Lagos APC, the developments reflect a troubling pattern of internal disarray and disregard for due process, with potentially dangerous implications for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Conflicting Court Rulings Raise Questions Over Judicial Manipulation
The party criticized what it termed the “embarrassing and avoidable” conflict between rulings issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja and an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan—each of which was cited by opposing PDP factions to justify their positions.
The Lagos APC noted that the contradictory orders have not only fueled confusion, but risk “bringing the nation’s judiciary into undue ridicule,” as political actors appear to selectively obey or discard rulings based on convenience.
The statement posed a pointed question now circulating among concerned observers:
“When did court judgments become commodities available for bargaining like items in Dugbe Market?”
It further warned that failure to address this trend could create a dangerous precedent where litigants allegedly obtain judgments informally, thereby undermining the authority and sanctity of the courts.
The party expressed confidence that the National Judicial Council (NJC) would take necessary steps to safeguard judicial integrity.
INEC’s Absence Seen as a Vote of No Confidence
The Lagos APC also cited the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the PDP convention as a decisive indication of the exercise’s “legitimacy crisis.” According to the party, the electoral body’s stance reflects the wider perception that the convention lacked coherence and procedural compliance.
A Party in Disarray, APC Says
The statement added that rather than work towards internal cohesion and democratic values, the PDP has increasingly become “a theatre of contradictions,” with actions that undermine the same principles of democracy it claims to defend.
“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” the APC noted, stressing that any political party that undermines the courts endangers national stability.
APC Reaffirms Commitment to Rule of Law
The Lagos APC reaffirmed its commitment to institutional respect, legal processes, and the strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic structures. It emphasized that the country must be protected from “political shortcuts and judicial theatrics.”
Conclusion
According to the party, the controversies surrounding the PDP’s convention serve as a broader warning about the health of democratic practice. It argued that a political organization that “shops for court orders,” selectively obeys judgments, and treats justice like a marketplace commodity is unfit to provide national leadership.
