The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the recent judgment of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, describing it as an inconsequential “academic exercise” with no binding effect on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .
Justice Ladiran Akintola of Court 5 had on Friday upheld the PDP national convention conducted on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, during which a National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) was elected. The court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi .
However, reacting swiftly, the PDP caretaker committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, through its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, insisted that the November 2025 convention remains invalid .
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said judgment does not bind the Independent National Electoral Commission, as INEC was neither joined nor represented as a party in the suit,” the faction stated .
The faction further noted that INEC had challenged the jurisdiction of the Oyo State High Court, which the judge subsequently upheld by striking out the commission’s name from the suit. “A judgment that does not bind INEC is of no consequence whatsoever as far as the issues at stake are concerned,” the statement added .
The Wike-backed faction emphasized that INEC has already complied with two subsisting judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which expressly restrained the commission from attending, monitoring, or recognizing the outcome of the purported convention . It also referenced a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that nullified the convention and restrained Turaki and his associates from parading themselves as party leaders .
The faction assured party members that arrangements for fresh congresses and a national convention scheduled for March 29 to 30, 2026, in Abuja have reached an advanced stage .
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal has heard consolidated cases relating to the PDP leadership crisis and reserved judgment, with the date to be communicated to the parties .
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