The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to overturn a Court of Appeal ruling that nullified the party’s national convention.
The convention was held on 15–16 November 2025 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Justice Lawal Garba, leading a five-member panel, announced the decision shortly after lawyers for all parties adopted their processes as briefs of argument. He stated that the judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated to all parties.
Factional dispute
The Tanimu Turaki-led faction had asked the apex court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision invalidating the Ibadan convention. The group argued that the matter concerned internal party affairs, which are non-justiciable, and that due process was followed.
Lower courts had previously ruled against the Turaki faction, nullifying the convention, barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcomes, and restricting access to the national secretariat.
The Turaki-led PDP’s appeal challenges two judgments delivered on 9 March, which affirmed earlier rulings by the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the PDP not to hold its national convention until it complied with relevant statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).
High Court rulings
In October 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the PDP faction led by Seyi Makinde (Governor of Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Governor of Bauchi) from proceeding with the Ibadan convention. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the party had failed to hold valid state congresses beforehand, as required by the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the PDP’s own constitution.
Two separate judgments by the Federal High Court, delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu, arose from suits filed by four aggrieved PDP members.
The first, delivered on 31 October 2025 by Justice Omotosho, followed a suit by Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The second, by Justice Lifu, ordered the PDP not to proceed with its convention until it allowed former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido the opportunity to contest as a chairmanship candidate. Mr Lamido had argued that the party denied him the chance to purchase the nomination form.
On 14 November 2025, Justice Lifu issued a final order restraining the PDP from conducting its convention, finding that Mr Lamido had been unjustly excluded in violation of the PDP constitution and its internal regulations.
Source: NAN
