Court Upholds Ruling Prohibiting Electoral Commission from Recognizing PDP's Ibadan Gathering

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a judgment that prohibited the Peoples Democratic Party from proceeding with its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, which took place on November 15 and 16, 2026, and produced a factional leadership led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Taminu Turaki, SAN, as National Chairman.

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In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court found that the statutory conditions preceding the convention were not met, thereby validating the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 31, 2025, which halted the planned convention.

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The appellate court dismissed the argument by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the party's domestic affairs, citing that the trial court properly assumed jurisdiction to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

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The court held that there was merit in the substantive suit that led to the high court's intervention, and consequently, the Justice Mohammed Danjuma-led panel of the Appeal Court dismissed the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1613/2025, filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP.

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The high court had previously ruled that evidence established the PDP's failure to comply with relevant statutory provisions and guidelines before conducting the convention, upholding a suit lodged by three aggrieved members of the party, including Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.

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The court specifically faulted the PDP for its failure to conduct valid state congresses in 14 states of the federation before fixing the convention, making it impossible for the convention to be held without delegates from the various states.

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Besides, the court noted that notices for the national convention were signed by only the National Chairman, excluding the National Secretary, rendering such notices and correspondences null and void in the eyes of the law.

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Justice Omotosho directed the party to go back and put its house in order, and to send the statutory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to INEC to enable it to monitor the processes, citing defendants including INEC, PDP, its National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and others.

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The plaintiffs had contended that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, made it mandatory for INEC to monitor the congress of every political party before it could be deemed valid, and that no valid notice was served on INEC for the planned convention.

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The court agreed with the plaintiffs and dismissed preliminary objections filed by the defendants, proceeding to restrain INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognizing the outcome of the convention pending compliance with relevant laws and regulations by the PDP.

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The court stressed that the electoral body was not obligated to give effect to the outcome of a convention conducted without strict adherence to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act 2022, and its guidelines, and that the party was not entitled to hold a national convention until it provided a proper framework for the election of delegates.

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However, shortly after the judgment was delivered, the party secured a contradictory order that allowed it to proceed with the convention, leading the Turaki-led faction to lodge the appeal that was dismissed on Monday with a cost of N2 million.