Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has invalidated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention that took place in the state capital in November 2025.
The legal action was initiated by the Taminu Turaki faction of the PDP under suit number FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, in which the group asked the court to formally recognise the convention held in Ibadan on November 15, 2025, and to affirm the legitimacy of the National Working Committee (NWC) that emerged from the gathering.
However, in a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Agomoh declared that the convention was organised in outright defiance of two existing judgments issued by the same court. He added that seeking judicial validation for actions already carried out in contempt of court orders amounted to a futile exercise.
As a result, the court nullified all resolutions and decisions reached during the convention.
The judge further restrained Turaki (SAN) and other individuals produced by the convention from presenting themselves as members of the party’s National Working Committee.
Justice Agomoh ruled that the caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu remains the only legally recognised NWC of the PDP until a properly conducted national convention is held.
Describing the suit before him as an audacious attempt to legitimise unlawful actions taken in violation of standing court orders, the judge dismissed the application in its entirety.
“I hold that the caretaker committee is the only lawful governing body of PDP that INEC should recognize and relate with,” the judge said.
“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 application fails and is dismissed,” he added.
The judgment follows a series of conflicting court decisions surrounding the convention. On November 14, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the suspension of the PDP convention in a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Lamido challenged the convention process, claiming he was denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest the party’s chairmanship, contrary to PDP guidelines and its constitution.
Earlier, an Oyo State High Court had directed the party to proceed with arrangements for the convention. In granting the order, Justice A. L. Akintola instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, observe, and monitor the exercise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
Boost for Democracy
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the PDP Caretaker Committee, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), hailed the decision as a positive development for Nigeria’s democratic system.
He said the applicants had sought court approval for what he described as an illegal convention, but the judiciary firmly rejected the move.
According to Orbih, the judgment reinforced the supremacy of the rule of law over political convenience and confirmed that all structures and decisions arising from the Ibadan convention had been completely nullified.
He added that the ruling clearly affirmed the caretaker committee’s responsibility to oversee the party’s affairs until a valid convention is organised in accordance with the law.
Orbih noted that the decision sends a strong warning to political actors on the dangers of ignoring court rulings, stressing that disobedience to judicial authority could plunge the system into disorder.
Turaki-Led Group To Challenge Verdict
In response, the Turaki-led faction announced plans to challenge the ruling at the appellate court.
Its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, said the group had already instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal and exhaust all available legal remedies.
“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,” he said.
Ememobong insisted that notwithstanding the judgment, the leadership that emerged from the Ibadan convention remains valid and legally binding until the appeal process is concluded.
What you should know
The Federal High Court’s decision has once again thrown the PDP into internal leadership uncertainty, reinforcing the role of the caretaker committee while nullifying the controversial Ibadan convention.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s firm stance on obedience to court orders and clarifies INEC’s position on which party leadership it should recognise.
With the Turaki-led faction set to appeal, the dispute is far from over and could shape the party’s internal structure and preparations ahead of future elections, making the final outcome critical for PDP’s stability.
