ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, declaring that it will immediately challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court .
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the convention . The appellate court held that the PDP violated constitutional provisions governing the conduct of a convention and failed to serve INEC with a valid notice as required by law .
In its lead judgment, the three-member panel led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam also affirmed that valid congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states before the convention was convened, making the entire exercise a nullity . The court dismissed the appellants’ argument that the matter was merely an internal affair of the party, stating that “non-compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and party guidelines are at the heart of democratic governance, and compliance must be strictly enforced in the interest of democracy” .
The appellate court further upheld the suspension of key party officials, including the National Legal Adviser, Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade; the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and the National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature . The court also awarded N2 million in costs against the appellants .
Reacting to the judgment in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC described the ruling as capable of inflicting “untold hardship” on party members and instructed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court .
“The operationalisation of this judgement will, without fail, work untold hardship on our members. To avert this, while we are consulting with critical organs of our party on the way forward, we have also instructed our lawyers to immediately take legal steps to appeal same to the Supreme Court — being the apex court in the land — to conclusively adjudicate on this matter,” the statement read .
The faction urged its members to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that the apex court would expeditiously resolve the matter in the interest of democracy .
“We urge our members to stand firm, trusting that soon this battle will be over and we shall be more than conquerors. The battle to rescue our party from the hands of government agents masquerading as opposition leaders must be fought, and we are determined to do so and win,” Ememobong added .
Wike’s Camp Welcomes Ruling, Plans Fresh Convention
Meanwhile, the faction of the PDP aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has welcomed the Appeal Court judgment as a victory for the rule of law .
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Wike described the ruling as an opportunity for the PDP to rebuild and restore unity among its members . He stressed that the court’s decision confirmed that the Ibadan convention could not stand because the party failed to comply with the legal requirements governing such exercises .
“When you do not comply with what the law says, it cannot stand. It does not matter who is chairman or who is not chairman. What matters is compliance with the law,” Wike stated .
The FCT minister also warned the Turaki-led faction against pursuing the matter further at the Supreme Court, arguing that it could harm the party, especially with political party primaries scheduled for April and May .
“By the time you go to the Supreme Court, you are merely causing harm to your party which you say you love. It is time now to say we have fought, let us drop our personal interest and make sure PDP becomes the number one opposition party,” Wike said .
He also confirmed that preparations were underway for a fresh National Convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2026, at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where new national officers will be elected in accordance with the law and the party’s constitution .
Background
The leadership crisis within the PDP began following the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced Senator Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as National Chairman .
However, three aggrieved members of the party — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) — filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 challenging the convention .
On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained INEC from recognizing the outcome of the convention until the party complied with relevant provisions of the law . The judge predicated his decision on grounds that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in some states and did not issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC .
The Turaki-led faction proceeded with the convention despite the subsisting court order, leading to the series of legal battles that culminated in Monday’s Appeal Court judgment .
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