BREAKING: Supreme Court nullifies PDP Ibadan convention as Wike-led faction wins

The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, delivering a major setback to the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

In a split decision by a five-member panel, the apex court held that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction lacked merit and affirmed the concurrent judgments of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had earlier voided the convention.

Justice Stephen Adah, delivering the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, ruled that the appellants went ahead with the convention in clear violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court restraining the exercise.

The court consequently dismissed the appeal and cross-appeals, ordering all parties to bear their respective costs.

The justices also held that the disobedience of court orders was not in dispute, adding that the PDP faction engaged in an abuse of court process by allegedly securing a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction after an earlier injunction had already been issued.

The apex court agreed with the lower courts that political parties are bound by Sections 221, 222 and 229 of the 1999 Constitution to comply strictly with constitutional provisions, electoral guidelines, and valid court orders in the conduct of their internal affairs.

The appeal challenged the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the Federal High Court’s decision nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcome.

The Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22.