By: Ahmed Rufa’i
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.
Justice Uche Agomoh, who delivered the judgment, also barred Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tanimu Turaki, and others who emerged as members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
The court ruled that the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the only recognised National Working Committee of the PDP, pending the conduct of a valid national convention.
The suit, FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, was filed by the Kabiru Turaki faction of the PDP, seeking judicial recognition of the Ibadan convention and validation of the NWC that emerged from it.
However, Justice Agomoh held that the convention was conducted in flagrant disobedience of two subsisting judgments of the same court, describing the move to seek judicial approval after violating court orders as an exercise in futility.
Consequently, all decisions taken at the convention were set aside.
The case, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vs Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and six others, came up for judgment on Friday, with all parties duly represented.
Mr. E. Y. Ajayi appeared for the applicant, holding brief for Musibau Adetumbi, SAN. INEC was represented by O. A. Adeyemi, alongside F. O. Ajiboye, Esq.
Chief Ferdinand O. Orbih, SAN; Dr. J. Y. Musa, SAN; and Dike Udenna appeared for the 2nd to 4th respondents, while Mr. A. P. Igbayilola represented the 5th to 7th respondents.
In his ruling, Justice Agomoh described the suit as a brazen attempt to legitimise illegal actions carried out in violation of existing court orders.
“I hold that the caretaker committee is the only lawful governing body of the PDP that INEC should recognise and relate with,” the judge ruled.
“This suit is a brazen attempt by the applicant to legitimise its illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders. I cannot allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments. The application fails and is dismissed,” he added.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP Caretaker Committee, Chief Ferdinand Oshioke 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 firmly rejected the move, affirming that the rule of law must prevail over political expediency.
Orbih noted that the judgment reinforces the authority of the caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs until a valid convention is held in line with the law, warning that disregard for court orders could plunge the polity into chaos.
The ruling follows a prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, which went ahead with the controversial Ibadan convention despite existing court orders.
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 alleged 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.
