By Dennis Okechukwu
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, dealing a significant blow to a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki.
In a split ruling delivered on Thursday by a five-member panel, three justices held that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction lacked merit. The court consequently upheld 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, Justice Stephen Adah ruled that the appellants acted in violation of an existing Federal High Court order that restrained them from conducting the convention.
The apex court dismissed the appeal and accompanying cross-appeals, directing all parties to bear their respective costs. It noted that the breach of the court order by the appellants was not in dispute.
The court also affirmed the findings of the lower courts that the PDP faction abused judicial processes by allegedly obtaining a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after an earlier restraining order had been issued.
Justice Adah further emphasised that political parties must strictly adhere to constitutional provisions, electoral laws, and valid court orders in the conduct of their internal affairs. He cited relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to support the position.
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 (INEC) from recognising its outcome.
The Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22.