The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgement in an appeal seeking to validate the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/164/2026, was filed by the factional national executive led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which emerged from the convention.
The appellants are asking the apex court to overturn the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, both of which invalidated the Ibadan convention.
A five-member panel of the court, headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, reserved the matter for judgement after hearing arguments from all parties and adopting their briefs. The court said a date for the ruling would be communicated.
Counsel to the appellants, led by Chief Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to allow the appeal and dismiss a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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However, the respondents, including a group represented by J. C. Njikonye (SAN) and the Wike-backed faction represented by J. B. Daudu (SAN), filed preliminary objections, asking the court to dismiss the appeal.
They argued that the dispute does not fall within the internal affairs of the party and maintained that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal rightly assumed jurisdiction.
Background
The dispute stems from the November 14, 2025, judgement of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which stopped the Ibadan convention.
The court had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising or recognising any convention that excluded former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido as a contestant.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, had approached the court after alleging he was denied the opportunity to contest for the position of national chairman.
The trial court held that he was wrongfully denied a nomination form and ruled that the party must allow members to aspire to offices in line with its constitution and guidelines. It subsequently halted the convention to enable him to obtain the form and participate.
Court Describes Ibadan Convention As Abuse Of Court Process
Despite the order, the party proceeded with the convention, a move the Court of Appeal later described as contemptuous and an abuse of court process.
The appellate court held that the PDP ought to have sought relief from a higher court instead of disregarding the subsisting order.
In a related appeal, the Supreme Court is also considering a separate application filed by the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
Through their counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the appellants asked the court to abridge the time for filing processes and depart from its rules in the interest of justice.
They are challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which upheld earlier decisions stopping the Ibadan convention.
The appellate court had ruled that the convention lacked legal backing, having been conducted in defiance of two Federal High Court judgements delivered on October 31 and November 14, 2024.
In its decision, the appellate panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma dismissed the appeal filed by a PDP faction aligned with Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
It upheld the ruling of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which barred INEC from recognising the outcome of the convention.
Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the lower court properly exercised jurisdiction since the case involved compliance with the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the party’s guidelines.
The court also rejected arguments on lack of locus standi and noted that issues surrounding the suspension of the party’s national legal adviser were internal matters not for judicial determination.
It found that the PDP failed to meet statutory requirements before conducting the convention and upheld the suit filed by three party members aligned with the Wike faction.
Federal High Court Faults Congress
The Federal High Court had earlier faulted the party for failing to conduct valid congresses in 14 states ahead of the convention and ruled that delegates could not be produced without such processes.
It also held that notices for the convention were defective, as they were not jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary.
The court directed the party to conduct proper congresses and meetings and give INEC the required 21 days’ notice.
It further restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the convention until compliance with relevant laws and guidelines.
Despite the rulings, the party later obtained a separate order permitting it to proceed with the convention.
The Turaki-led faction subsequently appealed, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the case on March 9 and awarded N2 million in costs.
Meanwhile, the Wike-aligned faction has since conducted its own convention in Abuja and produced a parallel leadership. It also secured a court order granting it access to the PDP national secretariat in the capital.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.