Court of Appeal upholds ruling stopping PDP national convention in Ibadan, citing failure to meet statutory requirements and proper state congresses
The convention had produced a factional leadership under Senior Advocate of Nigeria Taminu Turaki, SAN, as National Chairman. In a unanimous decision, a three-member appellate panel held that the party failed to meet statutory conditions required for a valid convention.
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The appellate court upheld the ruling of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on October 31, 2025, which had stopped the planned gathering.
The Turaki-led faction’s argument that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s internal affairs was dismissed.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma’s panel, highlighted that the PDP did not conduct valid state congresses in 14 states, making it impossible to hold the national convention.
Notices for the convention were also signed solely by the party’s National Chairman, excluding the National Secretary, which the court described as legally insufficient.
The suit was filed by aggrieved members aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, including Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The court directed the PDP to reorganise its internal structures, issue the statutory 21-day notices to INEC, and ensure proper monitoring of state congresses before attempting a national convention.
It restrained INEC from recognising or publishing any outcomes of the Ibadan convention pending compliance with electoral laws and party regulations.
The Turaki-led faction, however, previously secured a contradictory order that allowed it to proceed with the convention, prompting the appeal dismissed on Monday, which carried a cost of N2 million.
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The ruling underscores the importance of statutory compliance and internal democracy within political parties, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
