Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held in the city in November 2025, effectively dissolving the National Working Committee (NWC) that emerged from the exercise.
Justice Uche Agomoh, in a judgment delivered on Friday, ruled that the convention was conducted in clear violation of existing court orders and therefore lacked legal validity. The decision arose from suit number FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, filed by a faction of the party led by Taminu Turaki (SAN), which sought judicial recognition of the Ibadan convention held on November 15, 2025, and validation of the NWC produced from it.
In his ruling, Justice Agomoh held that the convention was organised in “flagrant disobedience” of two subsisting judgments of the same court, stressing that approaching the court to validate actions already taken in defiance of its orders was legally futile.
Consequently, the court set aside all decisions taken at the convention and barred Turaki and other members of the purported NWC from parading themselves as officers of the party.
According to the judge, the PDP caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu remains the only recognised National Working Committee of the party pending the conduct of a valid national convention.
“I hold that the caretaker committee is the only lawful governing body of PDP that INEC should recognize and relate with,” Justice Agomoh declared.
The court further described the suit as an outright attempt to legitimise actions carried out in breach of court orders. “This suit is a brazen attempt by the applicant to legitimize its illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders. I cannot allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments,” the judge said.
He concluded by dismissing the application in its entirety, stating: “The application fails and is dismissed.”
The judgment followed a series of conflicting court orders preceding the convention. On November 14, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ordered the suspension of the PDP convention in 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 guidelines.
Earlier, an Oyo State High Court had directed the PDP to proceed with preparations for the convention. In granting the order, Justice A. L. Akintola instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor, and observe the exercise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
Reacting to Friday’s judgment, counsel to the PDP Caretaker Committee, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), described the ruling as a major boost for Nigeria’s democracy. He said the claimants had sought judicial endorsement of what he termed an illegal convention, but the court decisively rejected the move.
According to Orbih, the judgment reaffirmed the supremacy of the rule of law over political convenience, noting that all actions and structures arising from the Ibadan convention had been completely nullified. He added that the decision confirmed the caretaker committee’s mandate to oversee the party’s affairs until a valid convention is conducted in line with the law.
Orbih further noted that the ruling sends a strong signal to political actors on the dangers of disregarding court orders, warning that such actions could undermine democratic stability.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction has rejected the verdict and announced plans to challenge it at the appellate court. In a statement issued by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the group said it had already instructed its legal team to file an appeal.
“We have accordingly briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter,” Ememobong said.
He maintained that the Turaki-led leadership that emerged from the Ibadan convention remains valid and legally intact, pending a final determination by the appellate courts.
