ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from validating the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2026.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, which produced Senator Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as National Chairman during the contentious convention.
The court held that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja was right in his October 31, 2025 judgment, which stopped the planned convention and restrained INEC from recognising its outcome.
The appellate court also awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants.
Delivering judgment, the panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma upheld the lower court’s finding that the PDP failed to comply with statutory conditions precedent before holding the convention. These included the failure to conduct valid state congresses in 14 states to elect delegates and the improper signing of convention notices by only the National Chairman without the National Secretary, contrary to the party’s constitution.
The court dismissed the appellant’s argument that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to meddle in the internal affairs of a political party, stating that the matter properly invoked the court’s jurisdiction as it sought to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution, and party guidelines.
The Turaki-led faction had secured a contradictory order that allowed the convention to proceed shortly after the October 2025 judgment, prompting the appeal that was dismissed on Monday.
The judgment is the latest development in the protracted leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen rival factions locked in legal battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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