The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday invalidated the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, further intensifying the leadership crisis within the country’s main opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a split decision delivered by a five-member panel, three justices ruled that the appeal filed by a faction led by Tanimu Turaki lacked merit, thereby affirming the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which had nullified the convention.
Delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, Justice Stephen Adah held that the appellants acted in clear disobedience of an existing order of the Federal High Court restraining them from proceeding with the convention pending compliance with earlier directives. He stated that the violation of the court order was undisputed and described the action as a threat to the administration of justice.
The court dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals and ordered all parties to bear their respective costs.
The dispute stemmed from the controversial Ibadan convention organised by the Turaki-led faction despite unresolved issues surrounding state congresses and subsisting court orders. Aggrieved members had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the organisers failed to meet statutory requirements under the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution before proceeding with the convention, prompting the court to restrain the exercise.
Despite the directive, the convention was held and produced a factional leadership, triggering fresh litigation and allegations of forum shopping within the party.
In its ruling, the apex court condemned what it described as a deliberate attempt by political actors to undermine judicial authority by obtaining conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. Justice Adah noted that instead of complying with the Federal High Court order or pursuing lawful appellate remedies, the appellants approached another High Court in Ibadan to secure orders enabling them to proceed with the convention.
He described the action as an abuse of court process that strikes at the core of the justice system, warning that persistent disregard for judicial orders by political actors poses a serious threat to constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The court emphasised that while political parties are voluntary associations, they derive their legitimacy from the Constitution and must operate within the bounds of the law. It held that courts of competent jurisdiction cannot be ignored simply because their orders are deemed inconvenient.
The judgment also upheld earlier findings that abuse of court process had been established, noting that the Court of Appeal had affirmed the Federal High Court’s decision that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting orders and due legal procedures.
The Turaki-led faction had approached the apex court seeking to overturn the lower courts’ decisions and validate the Ibadan convention, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in its entirety after reserving judgment on April 22.
