Appeal Court Nullifies PDP Ibadan Convention, Bars INEC from Recognising Turaki Leadership

Appeal Court Nullifies PDP Ibadan Convention, Bars INEC from Recognising Turaki Leadership

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld earlier rulings nullifying the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, and barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the leadership that emerged from the exercise.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed appeals filed by a faction of the party led by Taminu Turaki, which had sought to overturn earlier decisions of the Federal High Court of Nigeria invalidating the convention.

The convention, held between November 15 and 16, 2025, produced Turaki as the national chairman of the PDP alongside members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

However, the appellate court ruled that the convention was conducted in violation of relevant laws and party procedures, affirming the earlier decision that restrained INEC from recognising its outcome.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the PDP failed to comply with constitutional provisions required for the validity of such a convention.

According to the judge, the party did not give valid notice of the convention to INEC as required by law.

“Non-compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022 and party constitution and guidelines are at the heart of democratic governance, and compliance must be strictly enforced in the interest of democracy,” Onyemenam said.

The court also rejected the argument by the Turaki-led faction that the dispute was an internal party matter beyond judicial scrutiny.

The panel held that the case was not simply about internal affairs of the party but about ensuring that INEC complied with its statutory duties regarding party conventions.

The appellate court further noted that valid party congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states before the convention, contrary to requirements under the law.

Consequently, the court affirmed the earlier rulings of the Federal High Court and awarded N2 million in costs against the appellants, including Turaki and members of his faction of the party’s NWC.

The controversial convention also suspended several party officials perceived to be allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over alleged anti-party activities.

Those affected included the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha and National Organising Secretary Umaru Bature.

The dispute over the convention had triggered a series of conflicting court rulings. While judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier restrained the party from conducting the convention, a High Court in Ibadan later issued a counter-order directing the party to proceed with the exercise.

Despite the restraining orders, the convention went ahead in Ibadan where a new leadership structure was announced.

INEC subsequently declined to recognise the Turaki-led leadership, citing subsisting court orders that barred it from supervising or validating the convention.

Monday’s decision marks the first definitive ruling by an appellate court on the disputed convention after months of legal battles between rival factions of the opposition party.

However, the legal contest may not be over, as parties dissatisfied with the judgment are expected to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria for a final determination of the matter.