Abuja – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a series of rulings affirming two Federal High Court judgments that nullified the disputed national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Alhaji Taminu Turaki. The convention, held on November 15, 2025, at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan, was declared invalid for violating the Electoral Act and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).
The three-member appellate panel, presided over by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, dismissed nine consolidated appeals arising from the party’s internal leadership tussle, awarding N2 million in costs against the PDP in multiple instances for filing what the court described as frivolous or incompetent appeals.
The judgments upheld earlier rulings by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the convention results and ordered that former national chairmanship aspirant Sule Lamido be allowed to participate in the elections.
Justice Onyemenam noted that the PDP could not ignore existing court orders and that any party disagreements should be addressed through proper legal channels such as filing appeals or seeking a stay of execution. The court also rejected claims that the internal affairs of the party were beyond judicial scrutiny, affirming that plaintiffs had the right to protect their democratic rights.
The appellate court specifically ruled that former party officials and legal representatives who had ceased holding office, including Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Umar Damagun, lacked the authority to continue filing appeals on behalf of the PDP. Several appeals filed by these individuals were dismissed, with costs awarded against them personally.
Following the rulings, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee, whose Secretary is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced plans to hold a national convention on March 28 and 29, 2026. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a leading figure in the Wike/Anyanwu faction, called the judgment an opportunity for reconciliation, while other party leaders, including Ayodele Fayose and Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, urged unity and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The court’s decisions reinforce the requirement for the PDP to comply fully with its constitution and statutory regulations before conducting national conventions, ensuring that all eligible candidates, including Lamido, have an opportunity to participate in leadership contests.
