UPDATED: Supreme Court Voids PDP Ibadan Convention

PDP Ibadan convention

UPDATED: Supreme Court Voids PDP Ibadan Convention

The Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the controversial national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, delivering a major blow to a faction of the party and further intensifying the leadership crisis threatening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a split judgment delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court upheld the concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which had earlier invalidated the convention on grounds that it was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders.

Three members of the panel ruled that the appeal brought by the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), lacked merit and amounted to a clear disregard for judicial authority.

Delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, Justice Stephen Adah held that organisers of the Ibadan convention proceeded with the exercise despite an existing order of the Federal High Court restraining them from doing so pending compliance with earlier directives relating to unresolved congress disputes and internal party procedures.

“The disobedience of the court order is not disputed,” Justice Adah stated, warning that the actions of the appellants represented “a threat to the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

The apex court consequently dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals filed in the matter and directed all parties to bear their respective legal costs.

The legal battle stemmed from deep divisions within the PDP following disagreements over congresses conducted in several states and disputes surrounding the legitimacy of party structures ahead of the Ibadan convention.

Aggrieved members had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the organisers failed to comply with statutory provisions under the Electoral Act as well as the PDP constitution before convening the national gathering.

The trial court subsequently restrained the party from proceeding with the convention pending compliance with its directives. However, despite the order, the convention went ahead in Ibadan and produced a factional leadership structure, triggering multiple lawsuits and worsening internal tensions within the party.

In a strongly worded judgment, the Supreme Court condemned what it described as attempts by political actors to undermine judicial authority through conflicting court orders obtained from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

Justice Adah observed that instead of appealing the Federal High Court order through lawful judicial channels, the appellants allegedly approached another High Court in Ibadan to secure orders that enabled them to proceed with the convention.

“The appellant did not go on appeal but went to another High Court where they secured orders overriding the existing order of the Federal High Court and carried on with the party convention,” the justice said.

The court described the conduct as “an unparalleled abuse of court process” that struck directly at the integrity of the justice system and constitutional governance.

Warning against continued disregard for judicial decisions by political actors, Justice Adah stressed that the rule of law remained the foundation of democratic governance and could not be treated as optional.

“The rule of law is not an ornamentality, revoked, destroyed or discarded in practice. It is the fundamental architecture on which the legitimacy of governance rests,” he stated.

He further noted that political parties, although voluntary associations, derive their authority and legal existence from the Constitution and are therefore subject to constitutional limitations and judicial oversight.

Relying on Sections 221, 222 and 229 of the 1999 Constitution, the apex court held that political parties remain constitutional institutions established for participation in governance and elections and must comply fully with lawful court orders.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the findings of the lower courts that the conduct of the Turaki-led faction amounted to abuse of court process following efforts to secure what was described as a counter-order from another court while an existing order remained in force.

The Court of Appeal had earlier, in its March 9 judgment, upheld the decision of the Federal High Court and ruled that the convention violated subsisting judicial directives and failed to comply with established legal procedures.

Dissatisfied with that outcome, the Turaki faction approached the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the lower court judgments and validate the Ibadan convention. However, the apex court dismissed the appeal in its entirety after reserving judgment on April 22 following arguments from all parties.

The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for the PDP’s internal power structure as the party struggles with growing factional disputes, leadership uncertainty, and strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.