The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, dealing a major setback to the faction led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN.
In a judgment that brings an end to months of legal contention, the apex court declared the November 15 and 16, 2025 convention invalid, effectively voiding all decisions and leadership structures that emerged from the exercise.
The disputed convention, which took place in Ibadan, had produced a parallel set of national executives for the PDP under Turaki’s leadership. However, the exercise was conducted despite subsisting court orders restraining the party from going ahead with the gathering.
Earlier, a Federal High Court had stopped the convention, citing violations of the party’s constitution and failure to follow due process.
The court also pointed to unresolved issues from state congresses and the exclusion of some aspirants, which it said undermined the credibility of the process.
Despite the court order, the convention proceeded, prompting aggrieved members to seek further legal redress.
The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the decision of the lower court, affirming that the exercise contravened valid judicial directives and could not stand.
Dissatisfied, the Turaki-led faction approached the Supreme Court, asking it to overturn the earlier rulings and recognise the convention and its outcomes as valid.
However, in its final determination, the apex court affirmed the concurrent judgments of the lower courts, declaring the Ibadan convention null and void.
The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the internal leadership structure of the PDP, as it settles the dispute over the legitimacy of the factional executives produced at the convention.