The Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, dealing a significant blow to a faction of the opposition party led by a former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In a split verdict delivered by a five-member panel, three justices ruled that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led group was devoid of merit, affirming the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which had earlier invalidated the convention.
Delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, Justice Stephen Adah held that the appellants acted in violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court which restrained them from proceeding with the planned convention.
The apex court consequently dismissed both the appeal and the cross-appeals, directing all parties to bear their respective costs.
The court noted that the disobedience of the restraining order was not contested by the appellants.
It further upheld the position of the lower courts that the faction abused judicial process by allegedly securing a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after an earlier injunction had been issued.
Justice Adah emphasised that the lower courts were right in invoking relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that political parties must strictly adhere to constitutional guidelines, electoral regulations and valid court orders in the conduct of their internal affairs.
The appeal had sought to overturn the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the Federal High Court’s earlier decision nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.
The apex court had reserved judgment in the case on April 22 after hearing arguments from counsel.
More details to follow.