The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, while also dismissing the appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the party.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the convention was conducted in violation of an existing order of the Federal High Court issued by Justice James Omotosho.
The court ruled that the organisers proceeded with the convention despite being aware of a subsisting court directive, describing the action as a clear breach of judicial authority and an abuse of court process.
It further held that political parties, as key instruments of democratic governance, are bound to respect court orders, stressing that compliance with the rule of law is not optional.
“The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby set aside,” the court declared.
The apex court also faulted the Turaki-led group for seeking reliefs at another court of coordinate jurisdiction instead of pursuing proper appellate procedures, describing the move as improper and procedurally flawed.
As a result, the appeal was dismissed for lack of merit, with the court directing that each party should bear its own costs.
The judgment also resolved a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, although the court maintained its focus on the legality of the Ibadan convention itself.
The dispute stemmed from an earlier injunction obtained by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, which restrained the PDP from holding the convention pending resolution of internal party issues. Despite the order, the party proceeded, triggering a chain of legal battles.
The court noted that the matter was not merely an internal party affair but one involving clear disobedience of court orders, which removed it from the protection of party autonomy.
While Justice Stephen Adah read the lead majority judgment supported by Justices Mohammed Garba and Chidiebere Iheme, dissenting opinions were expressed by Justices Haruna Samani and Abubakar Umar.
The minority justices argued that internal party affairs should ordinarily fall outside judicial interference, though they agreed that court orders must not be disobeyed.
The ruling has further deepened the leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen competing factions and parallel conventions in recent months, including a separate gathering in Abuja that produced an alternative National Working Committee.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for the party’s leadership structure and its preparations ahead of future elections.
