Isaac Samuel
The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, dealing a major blow to a faction of the opposition party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki.
In a split decision by a five-member panel, three justices held that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction lacked merit and affirmed the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had nullified the exercise.
Delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, Justice Stephen Adah ruled that the appellants proceeded with the convention in violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court restraining them from doing so.
The apex court consequently dismissed both the appeal and the cross-appeals, directing all parties to bear their respective costs.
The court noted that the disobedience of the subsisting court order was not in dispute and faulted the conduct of the faction for allegedly securing a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after the initial restraining order had been issued.
Justice Adah agreed with the lower courts that the actions of the PDP faction amounted to an abuse of court process.
He further held that the decisions of the lower courts were consistent with Sections 221, 222 and 229 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandate political parties to strictly comply with constitutional provisions, electoral guidelines and valid court orders in the conduct of conventions and internal affairs.
The appeal had challenged the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.
The Supreme Court had reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22.
