The Supreme Court has invalidated the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, marking a major setback for a faction of the opposition party.
The faction was led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, SAN.
In a split decision delivered by a five-member panel, three justices held that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction lacked merit and upheld the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had earlier nullified 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 planned convention.
The apex court noted that disobedience of the court order was not disputed and therefore could not be excused.
It further held that the faction abused court processes by obtaining a counter-order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after an earlier restraining order had been issued by the Federal High Court.
The court consequently dismissed the appeal and cross-appeals, ordering all parties to bear their respective costs.
The judgment also affirmed that political parties must strictly comply with constitutional provisions, electoral regulations, and valid court orders in the conduct of internal party affairs, citing Sections 221, 222, and 229 of the 1999 Constitution.
The appeal challenged the March 9 decision of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the Federal High Court ruling nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.
The Supreme Court had reserved judgment in the case after hearing arguments on April 22.
