The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the validity of the 2025 PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, which saw Tanimu Turaki, SAN, elected to lead the National Working Committee.
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Justice Ladiran Akintola of Court 5 delivered the judgment on Friday in Suit No I/1336/2025, granting all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, represented by his lawyer, Musbau Adetunmbi, SAN.
The ruling has drawn contrasting reactions from the two warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The court ruled that the convention complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and other relevant laws.
Justice Akintola declared that, by virtue of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the defendants were under an obligation to ensure that the claimant’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association was not infringed.
The court held that, pursuant to Sections 223(1)(a) and 223(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 82(1) and (2)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022, and the notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission on August 29, 2025, all necessary modalities and conditions for holding the convention had been duly satisfied, irrespective of whether INEC monitored the exercise or not.
In a consequential declaration, the court held that the convention convened on November 15 and 16, 2025, pursuant to its orders of November 3, 2025, and renewed on November 14, 2025, was legal and valid.
The court ruled that, as INEC was a party at the time the interim orders were made and renewed, the outcome of the convention was binding on the commission and that it was obliged to give effect to all decisions reached thereat.
Justice Akintola consequently directed INEC to continue to give perpetual effect to the outcome of the convention, pending any contrary pronouncement by a higher court.
The court said it found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise.
Justice Akintola also dismissed motions seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling filed by Sunday Ibrahim, SAN, on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others.
The court had earlier rejected their application for joinder, describing it as lacking merit.
The Turaki-led NWC, through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Friday hailed the ruling as a triumph for internal democracy and the cohesion of the party.
“The Peoples Democratic Party has been informed of the judgment of the High Court of Oyo State, sitting in Ibadan, delivered by the Honourable Justice Ladiran Akintola. The court granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, declaring the National Convention held in Ibadan as properly conducted and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and give full effect to all decisions and outcomes reached at the said convention, the same having been found to be proper and lawful,” the statement read.
“This judgment affirms and gives final effect to those earlier orders. The party welcomes this judgment as a vindication of both fact and law. It reaffirms the obvious fact that the Ibadan convention was conducted properly, transparently, and in full compliance with the party’s constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We commend the Honourable Court for its courage and fidelity to justice. We reaffirm our faith in the Nigerian judiciary as an independent arbiter and the last hope of the ordinary citizen.
“The party remains committed to pursuing all legitimate legal avenues to ensure that justice is fully served, and we are confident that the appellate courts will, in like manner, uphold the law without fear or favour, affection, or ill will.”
In a swift reaction, the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee rejected the judgment, describing it as inconsequential and a mere academic exercise.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction insisted that the judgment could not stand.
“The judgment reportedly delivered by the Oyo State High Court is an inconsequential development and is best described as a mere academic exercise.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said judgment does not bind the Independent National Electoral Commission as INEC was neither joined nor represented as a party in the suit,” the statement read.
The faction argued that INEC had already complied with earlier judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Ibadan restraining the commission from attending, monitoring or recognising the outcome of the convention.
“A judgment that does not bind INEC is of no consequence whatsoever as far as the issues at stake are concerned,” it added, noting that arrangements for a fresh National Convention were at an advanced stage.
On January 30, a Federal High Court in Ibadan annulled the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and directed Turaki and others to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Prior to that ruling, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, which elected Turaki and members of the National Working Committee for a four-year term. The governors had also overseen the transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9.
However, a faction loyal to Wike formed a 13-member caretaker committee on December 8, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting Secretary, with a 60-day mandate.
Efforts by both the Wike-aligned faction and the governors’ camp to meet at Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, degenerated into chaos and physical confrontations, after which the police sealed the PDP National Secretariat.
Both factions subsequently approached INEC for recognition, but the commission declined to acknowledge either side, triggering prolonged legal battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amid the dispute, the Wike-backed caretaker committee announced on February 3 that a fresh National Convention to elect new PDP leaders would take place in Abuja from March 29 to 30.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard all consolidated cases regarding the PDP leadership crisis and reserved judgment, with the date to be communicated to the parties.
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