The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal by a PDP faction challenging court rulings that nullified the party’s 2025 national convention in Ibadan.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, challenging the nullification of the party’s 2025 national convention.
A five-member panel headed by Justice Lawal Garba announced that a date for judgment would be communicated after lawyers representing all parties adopted their final written addresses.
The Turaki-led group is seeking to overturn the March 9 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which upheld earlier judgments invalidating the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
During proceedings, the appellants argued that the dispute relates to internal party affairs and should therefore not be subject to judicial intervention.
They also maintained that due process was followed in organising the convention.
However, lower courts had consistently ruled against the faction.
The earlier decisions nullified the convention, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising outcomes from the exercise, and issued orders affecting access to the party’s national secretariat.
The Court of Appeal had affirmed two judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which barred the PDP from conducting the convention pending compliance with the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
In one ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by law and by its constitution, making the planned convention invalid.
In a separate judgment, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the party from proceeding with the convention until Sule Lamido was allowed to participate in the national chairmanship contest.
The court found that Lamido had been unjustly excluded from the race.
The legal challenges were initiated by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo, Abia, and the South-South region.
The case has further exposed the prolonged leadership tensions within the PDP, with the final outcome now resting on the Supreme Court.
Political observers say the judgment could significantly shape the opposition party’s internal structure and preparedness for future elections.
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