The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
In a split decision delivered on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki. Three justices held that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had earlier invalidated the convention.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Stephen Adah ruled that the appellants violated a subsisting order of the Federal High Court restraining them from proceeding with the convention.
The court further held that the disobedience of the court order was not in dispute and described the actions of the faction as an abuse of court process. It noted that the group allegedly obtained a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after an earlier restraining order had been issued.
The apex court agreed with the findings of the lower courts that political parties must strictly comply with constitutional provisions, electoral regulations, and valid court orders in conducting their internal affairs.
The judgment also referenced relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, stressing the need for adherence to due process in party conventions and leadership decisions.
The appeal challenged the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the Federal High Court’s decision nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.
The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals, ordering all parties to bear their respective costs.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the internal leadership structure of the PDP, particularly the faction involved in the disputed convention.
