By Obinna Uballa
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in the city between November 15 and 16, 2025.
The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, was filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP, which sought judicial recognition of the Ibadan convention and validation of the National Working Committee (NWC) that emerged from it.
However, delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Uche Agomoh barred Turaki and other officials purportedly elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party with immediate effect.
The court held that the convention was conducted in blatant disobedience of two subsisting judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction. Agomoh ruled that returning to court to seek approval for actions taken in defiance of valid court orders amounted to an exercise in futility.
Consequently, all resolutions and decisions taken at the Ibadan convention were set aside.
The judge further declared that the PDP can only operate through its caretaker committee until a proper and lawful national convention is conducted in line with the party’s constitution and existing court orders.
The ruling is the latest development in the prolonged leadership crisis rocking the opposition party, which proceeded with the Ibadan convention despite pending court orders restraining it.
Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the suspension of the convention following a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido.
Lamido had challenged the process, alleging that he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest for the party’s chairmanship, contrary to the PDP constitution and established guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction has announced plans to appeal the Ibadan court judgment.
In refusing the faction’s request for an order of mandamus, the court held that granting such relief would amount to “sitting on appeal” over decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
Reacting, the faction described the ruling as “not unexpected.”
In a statement posted on Friday on X by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction said it had instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal and exhaust all lawful avenues to protect its position.
Despite the setback, the statement insisted that the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction remains legally intact.
“We therefore urge our members to remain resolute and committed, as there is absolutely no cause for alarm. The rebirth movement remains firmly on course,” the statement said.
