ABUJA, Nigeria: The Supreme Court of Nigeria invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, through a split decision delivered by a five-member panel on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Okay News reports that Justice Stephen Adah delivered the lead judgment for appeal number SC/CV/164/2026 holding that the party faction led by Nigeria’s former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, violated a subsisting Federal High Court order restraining them from proceeding with the planned convention.
The court dismissed the appeal and cross-appeals and ordered all parties to bear their respective costs. The justices affirmed the concurrent findings of the lower courts that the faction abused court processes by obtaining a counter-order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after the initial restraining order was issued.
Justice Adah stated that the lower courts correctly relied on Sections 221, 222, and 229 of the 1999 Constitution to hold that political parties must comply strictly with constitutional provisions, electoral regulations, and valid court orders in the conduct of internal affairs.
The appeal challenged a March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.
The apex court reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments on April 22.
