The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set February 12 to consider multiple suits disputing the legitimacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma fixed the date to hear eight separate appeals questioning the validity of the convention that produced the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Tanimu Turaki.
The appeals stem from judgments delivered by three federal high court judges and one state high court judge over the controversial gathering.
How the dispute began
In November 2025, a PDP faction organised a national convention in Ibadan, where 20 members of the NWC were elected. Among those returned were Tanimu Turaki as national chairman; Hamza Akuyan Koshe as deputy national chairman (north); Daniel Ambrose Woye as deputy national chairman (south); and Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo as national secretary.
However, the build-up to the convention was marked by conflicting court rulings.
On October 31, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the party from proceeding with the convention.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that available evidence suggested the PDP had not conducted valid state congresses ahead of the planned event, contrary to provisions of the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
Days later, on November 4, 2025, Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court directed the PDP and its former national chairman, Umar Damagum, to go ahead with the convention scheduled for November 15.
The legal tussle continued on November 11, 2025, when Justice Peter Lifu of the federal high court in Abuja again restrained the party from holding the convention, citing alleged non-compliance with legal and procedural requirements.
Lifu ruled that evidence presented by Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, showed that the timetable for the convention was not properly published for party members as required by law. He added that Lamido, described as a bona fide PDP member and aspirant for national chairman, would suffer greater hardship if the interim order was denied.
The faction of the PDP aligned with Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, boycotted the Ibadan convention.
