The Supreme Court of Nigeria has invalidated the November 2025 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, nullifying the factional leadership that emerged from the exercise.
The convention, conducted on November 15 and 16 in Oyo State, had produced a parallel national executive committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), further deepening the crisis within the main opposition party.
In its judgment delivered on Thursday, the apex court affirmed earlier rulings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which had declared the convention unlawful.
The courts held that the gathering was conducted in defiance of valid court orders and in breach of the party’s constitution, particularly amid unresolved disputes arising from state congresses and concerns over due process.
The latest verdict is regarded as a significant setback for the Turaki-led faction and a major gain for the bloc aligned with Nyesom Wike, which had consistently challenged the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention.
The legal tussle began before the convention was held, when a Federal High Court issued an order restraining the PDP from proceeding with the exercise, citing irregularities and unresolved internal disputes.
Despite the order, party stakeholders went ahead with the convention, prompting a wave of litigation. The Court of Appeal later upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that the convention could not be recognised as it violated subsisting judicial directives.
Seeking redress, the Turaki faction approached the Supreme Court, asking it to overturn the concurrent judgments and validate the convention along with the executives it produced.
However, the apex court dismissed the appeal and upheld the earlier decisions, declaring the entire exercise null and void.
The ruling effectively ends the protracted legal battle over the Ibadan convention and wipes out the factional leadership structure that emerged from it.
Political observers say the judgment could have far-reaching implications for the PDP’s internal balance of power as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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