Turaki-Led PDP Rejects Appeal Court Ruling on National Convention, Heads to Supreme Court
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki has rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria nullifying the party’s national convention held in November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) under Turaki announced that it would challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, describing the appellate court’s decision as one that could create hardship for members of the party across the country.
In its judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court upheld an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which had restrained the PDP from conducting the national convention that eventually took place on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The appeal court dismissed the PDP’s argument that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who delivered the lead judgment, ruled that the party failed to comply with constitutional provisions guiding the conduct of its national convention.
According to the court, the PDP did not properly notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law before holding the convention.
The court also found that the party failed to conduct congresses in more than 14 states before organising the national gathering, a requirement stipulated by electoral regulations.
Based on these findings, the appellate court held that the Federal High Court was right to assume jurisdiction over the case and to restrain INEC from recognising or accepting the outcome of the convention.
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The court further ruled that the matter could not be dismissed as an internal party affair because it involved compliance with electoral laws and procedures that fall within the jurisdiction of the courts.
Following the judgment, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson of the Turaki faction of the PDP, issued a statement rejecting the decision and confirming that the party would immediately seek redress at the Supreme Court.
According to Ememobong, the PDP’s legal team has already been instructed to file an appeal before the apex court to challenge the verdict.
“The operationalisation of this judgment will, without fail, work untold hardship on our members,” the statement said.
“To avert this, while we are consulting with critical organs of our party on the way forward, we have also instructed our lawyers to immediately take legal steps to appeal same to the Supreme Court, being the apex court in the land, to conclusively adjudicate on this matter.”
He added that the party remains confident that the Supreme Court will resolve the legal dispute swiftly and in a manner that protects democratic processes.
Ememobong also urged members of the PDP to remain calm and united while the legal process unfolds.
According to him, the party believes the legal battle will soon be resolved and that members should remain hopeful about the outcome.
The spokesperson further alleged that certain individuals were attempting to undermine the PDP from within, describing them as “government agents masquerading as opposition leaders.”
Internal disputes have continued to affect the PDP in recent years, with factions within the party disagreeing over leadership structures, conventions, and strategic direction.
Political analysts note that the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal could significantly shape the party’s internal structure and leadership legitimacy ahead of future political contests.
For now, the legal battle appears set to continue as the PDP seeks a final decision from the nation’s highest court.