Appeal Court Upholds Ruling Barring PDP Ibadan Convention That Produced Turaki Factional Leadership

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday upheld an earlier ruling that prevented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding the national convention conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2026.

The convention had produced a factional leadership within the party, with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Taminu Turaki, emerging as National Chairman.

Delivering a unanimous verdict, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the necessary legal requirements were not fulfilled before the convention took place.

The court ruled that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja acted correctly in his October 31, 2025 judgment that stopped the planned convention.

It also rejected the argument by the Turaki-led faction that the court had no authority to intervene in the internal affairs of the party.

According to the appellate court, the Federal High Court was justified in assuming jurisdiction because the case involved ensuring compliance with the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and the guidelines regulating political parties.

The panel, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, concluded that the case presented sufficient grounds for the lower court’s intervention.

As a result, the court dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1613/2025.

The Federal High Court had earlier ruled that the PDP failed to follow the required statutory provisions and party guidelines before going ahead with the convention.