The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, dealing a major blow to a faction of the party led by Tanimu Turaki.
In a split judgment delivered by a five-member panel, three justices ruled that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led group lacked merit, thereby affirming the earlier decisions of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had invalidated the convention.
Delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, Stephen Adah held that the appellants proceeded with the convention in clear violation of a subsisting order issued by the Federal High Court restraining them from doing so.
The apex court noted that the disobedience of the court order was not in dispute and consequently dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals, directing all parties to bear their respective costs.
The court further agreed with the findings of the lower courts that the faction engaged in abuse of court process by allegedly securing a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after the initial restraining order had been issued.
Justice Adah emphasised that political parties must strictly comply with constitutional provisions, electoral regulations, and valid court orders in conducting their internal affairs, citing relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution.
The appeal had challenged the March 9 ruling 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 had earlier reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22, before delivering its final decision which now puts to rest the legal dispute over the controversial convention.
