The Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, has validated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elective convention held between 15 and 16 November 2025, in Ibadan, introducing a new twist to the volatile leadership crisis that has engulfed the party in the last three years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convention produced Kabiru Turaki as the National Chairman of the party.
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Delivering judgement on Friday, Judge Ladiran Akintola affirmed that the convention was conducted in full compliance with relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria.
The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misbau Adetunmbi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Adelabu.
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Mr Akintola held that the convention, organised by recognised leadership of the party, satisfied all laid down legal requirements as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to Mr Akinola, it also satisfied the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, and other applicable electoral laws.
The court found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise.
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In the same proceedings, the court dismissed a motion on notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim, a SAN, on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others.
The judge described the applications as lacking in merit.
Earlier, the court had rejected an application by Mr Ibrahim seeking to join his clients as parties to the suit.
Mr Akintola ruled that the joinder application was unsubstantiated and consequently dismissed it.
It would be recalled that Mr Turaki faction of the PDP had filed the suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, seeking recognition of the convention held in Ibadan in November last year and validation of the NWC that emerged at the convention.
Friday’s judgement runs counter to an earlier verdict of the Federal High Court in Ibadan. The Oyo State High Court, which gave the latest decision, and the Federal High Court are of coordinate jurisdictions, meaning one is not superior to other.
The Federal High Court had earlier nullified the PDP national convention.
In the judgment, the judge, Uche Agomoh barred Mr Turaki and other officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Mr Agomoh also held that the Caretaker Committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, pending the conduct of a valid national convention.
Relying on Mr Agomoh’s judgement, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) de-recognised Mr Turaki’s leadership and recognised acting chair Mohammed Abdulrahman, whose group aligns with FCT minister Nyesom Wike.
With the latest judgement on Friday, it is still unclear if INEC will revert to recognising Mr Turaki’s leadership.
INEC usually adopts the judgement that is either the latest in time or given by a superior court in a see-saw situation created by fast-paced unpredictable judicial interventions.
Crisis to linger after Friday’s judgement
Friday’s judgement, the latest development in the crisis, is far from resolving the volatile leadership crisis within the party, especially as the matter is now before the Court of Appeal.
On 13 February, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reversed judgement judgment on the dispute.
After hearing parties, the three-member panel said the date of judgement would be communicated to them. But the date of judgement has not been communicated yet as of Friday.
The appeals stemmed mainly from separate decisions handed down by two Federal High Court judges in Abuja – James Omotosho and Peter Lifu. There were also counter-decisions from the Oyo State High Court and recently the Federal High Court, both in Ibadan, regarding the disputed convention.
Despite the rulings stopping the convention ahead of the scheduled date, the organisers proceeded with it in Ibadan, Oyo State, between 15 and 16 November 2025, producing Tanimu Turaki, as national chairperson of the PDP, alngside other national officers.
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There is another related case before Joyce Abdulmalik, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, filed on 21 November last year by a rival faction aligned with the FCT minister, Mr Wike, to restrain the Mr Turaki-led group from representing the party and to bar the police and the State Security Service (SSS) from granting them access to the PDP secretariat in Abuja.
On 23 January, Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the case until 20 February in deference to the Court of Appeal over the the appeals regarding the same subject matter of the Ibadan convention pending before it. Ms Abdumalik rescheduled the case for 20 February to take report from the Court of Appeal regarding the appeals.
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