The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the legality of its November 2025 national convention held in Ibadan.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Lawal Garba, announced that the court would deliver its ruling at a later date after hearing final arguments from all parties involved.
The appeal was brought by a faction of the PDP led by Tanimu Turaki, which is seeking to overturn earlier court decisions that nullified the convention.
The disputed convention took place on November 15–16, 2025, at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Turaki’s legal team argued before the apex court that the matter concerns internal party affairs, which they claim should not be subject to judicial intervention.
They also maintained that due process was followed in organising the convention.
However, previous rulings by lower courts, including the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, invalidated the convention.
The courts held that the PDP failed to meet key requirements, including conducting valid state congresses prior to the national gathering.
The judgments also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)from recognising the outcomes of the convention.
In addition, some court orders limited access to the party’s national secretariat amid the leadership dispute.
The controversy stems from multiple legal actions filed by aggrieved party members, including state party officials from Imo, Abia, and the South-South region.
Another major factor in the dispute was a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who challenged his exclusion from the race for the party’s national chairmanship.
A Federal High Court ruling had earlier halted the convention, stating that Lamido was denied the opportunity to obtain nomination forms, contrary to the party’s constitution.
The court found that this exclusion violated internal party rules and justified its decision to stop the exercise.
Despite the restraining orders, the convention proceeded, leading to its eventual nullification by the courts.
The Supreme Court’s pending decision is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s leadership structure and internal governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
