Supreme Court nullifies PDP Ibadan convention, dismisses Turaki-led appeal
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and thus effectively nullifying the party’s recent national convention.
The majority ruling
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Stephen Adah held that the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, 15th and 16th November, 2025, was conducted in open defiance of an existing Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho.
The apex court severely criticised the Turaki-led faction for attempting to bypass the legal hierarchy.
Key highlights of the ruling include:
Abuse of process: The court berated the group for seeking a fresh order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction rather than filing a formal appeal.
Legal peril: The judgment emphasized that any litigant who engages in the abuse of court processes does so at their own peril.
Rule of law: The court maintained that because political parties are the primary vehicles for public office, they have a heightened responsibility to obey the law.
”The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby nullified. This court will not lend its machinery to any litigant who abuses the process of the court,” the panel declared.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle stems from a cross-appeal involving a rival faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
The injunction: Lamido had previously secured a Federal High Court injunction barring the PDP from holding the convention until he was permitted to contest for the position of National Chairman.
Defiance: Despite the order, the party proceeded with the Ibadan exercise.
Appellate affirmation: The Court of Appeal had already declared the exercise unlawful, ruling that the matter was not protected under the “internal party affairs” doctrine because it involved the direct disobedience of a valid court order.
The dissenting opinions
In a minority judgment, Justice Haruna Samani argued that party leadership disputes are internal affairs and, therefore, outside the jurisdiction of the lower courts.
This view was echoed by Justice Abubakar Umar, who cited Supreme Court precedents suggesting that matters unrelated to primary elections are not “justiciable” pre-election matters.
However, both dissenting justices clarified that they do not support the disobedience of court orders.
Final verdict
The majority decision—supported by Justices Mohammed Garba and Chidiebere Iheme—upheld the lower court’s nullification of the convention. The appeal was dismissed for lack of merit, and the court ordered all parties to bear their own legal costs.
