The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed a judgment of the Oyo State High Court validating the party’s 2025 National Convention held in Ibadan.
In a ruling delivered on Friday in Suit No. I/1336/2025, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld the November 15 and 16, 2025 convention, which produced Tanimu Turaki as substantive National Chairman. The court ruled that the exercise complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and other relevant laws.
The court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, whose amended originating summons was filed by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN). It also dismissed motions for a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling brought by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others, having earlier rejected their application for joinder.
Justice Akintola held that the convention satisfied the requirements of Sections 223(1)(a) and 223(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 82(1) and (2)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022. The court noted that the necessary notice had been issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission on August 29, 2025, and ruled that all modalities for the convention were duly met, regardless of whether the commission monitored the exercise.
The judge further declared that, by virtue of Section 40 of the Constitution, the defendants were obligated to protect the claimant’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. He affirmed that the convention, convened pursuant to earlier court orders of November 3 and renewed on November 14, 2025, was lawful and binding, directing the electoral body to continue giving effect to its outcome pending any contrary decision by a higher court.
While the Turaki-led National Working Committee welcomed the judgment as a victory for internal democracy, the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee rejected the verdict.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction described the ruling as “inconsequential” and a “mere academic exercise,” insisting that it does not bind the Independent National Electoral Commission because, according to them, the commission was neither joined nor represented in the suit.
The group maintained that earlier judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Ibadan had restrained the commission from attending, monitoring, or recognising the convention, arguing that any ruling that does not compel the electoral body carries no practical effect. It added that preparations for a fresh national convention were already at an advanced stage.
Conversely, the Turaki-led NWC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, hailed the decision as a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention. The committee praised the court for its “courage and fidelity to justice,” expressing confidence that appellate courts would uphold the ruling if challenged.
The leadership crisis within the PDP has deepened in recent months. On January 30, a Federal High Court in Ibadan annulled the November 15, 2025 convention and ordered Turaki and others to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Before that ruling, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention and overseen the transition from former chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki after Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9. However, a faction loyal to Wike inaugurated a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting Secretary with a 60-day mandate.
An attempt by both factions to meet at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, on November 18, 2025, ended in chaos, prompting the police to seal the premises. Both camps later sought recognition from the electoral commission, which declined to acknowledge either side, leading to multiple court cases ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amid the dispute, the Wike-backed caretaker committee announced that it would organise a fresh national convention in Abuja from March 29 to 30. Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal heard consolidated cases on the PDP leadership crisis on February 12 and reserved judgment for a later date.
