Dare Babalola
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki challenging earlier rulings that nullified the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan in 2025.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Lawal Garba, announced on Wednesday that a date for the judgment would be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their final written submissions.
Turaki and his faction are asking the apex court to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, which invalidated the PDP’s Ibadan convention conducted on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The appellants argued that the dispute concerns internal party matters and should not be subject to judicial intervention, insisting that due process was followed in organising the convention.
However, lower courts had ruled against the Turaki faction, voiding the convention, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcomes, and, in some instances, limiting access to the party’s national secretariat.
The appeal stems from a March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld earlier decisions of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing the PDP not to proceed with the convention until it complied with relevant legal provisions, including the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
In one of the earlier rulings delivered on October 31, 2025, James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses ahead of the planned convention, contrary to constitutional and regulatory requirements.
The suit was filed by aggrieved party members, including Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.
In a separate judgment, Peter Lifu ordered the PDP to halt the convention until it allowed Sule Lamido to participate in the race for national chairman.
Lamido had approached the court, alleging that he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form and contest in the exercise.
In a final order issued on November 14, Justice Lifu ruled that the exclusion violated the party’s constitution and internal regulations, thereby restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention.
With judgment now reserved, the Supreme Court’s eventual decision is expected to determine the legality of the disputed convention and shape the leadership structure of the PDP going forward.
