PDP crisis: Supreme Court reserves judgment on convention validity

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to overturn earlier rulings that invalidated the party’s 2025 national convention in Ibadan.

A five-member panel of the apex court, sitting in Abuja and led by Justice Lawal Garba, fixed judgment for a date to be communicated after counsel to all parties adopted their final written addresses.

The appeal, brought by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction, challenges the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming lower court rulings that nullified the November 15–16, 2025 convention. The appellants argue that the dispute falls within internal party affairs, which they contend are not justiciable, and maintain that due process was followed.

However, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had ruled against the 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 appellate decisions upheld earlier judgments delivered in March 2025, which barred the PDP from proceeding with the convention until it complied with statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

In October 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja also restrained a rival faction associated with Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed from conducting the convention, citing the party’s failure to hold valid state congresses as required under its constitution and INEC guidelines.

Separate suits filed by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo and Abia, as well as a South-South zonal officer, formed the basis of the legal challenges.

In a related case, the court halted the convention following a suit by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who alleged he was denied the opportunity to contest for the party’s national chairmanship. The court held that his exclusion violated the PDP’s constitution and internal regulations, and subsequently restrained the party from proceeding with the exercise.

The Supreme Court’s pending judgment is expected to provide clarity on the legality of the convention and the broader question of judicial intervention in party affairs.