PDP Ibadan Convention Nullified: Court of Appeal Upholds Federal High Court Ruling Against Turaki Faction

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the Federal High Court ruling that barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding or having the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognize the outcome of its 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. The convention, scheduled for November 15–16, had been organized by the Turaki faction of the party.

Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, delivering judgment on the appeal, ruled that the PDP violated statutory and constitutional requirements necessary for a valid convention. Among other infractions, no proper notice was served on INEC, and valid congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states, as mandated by law.

Court emphasizes legal compliance over party politics

The appellate court stressed that the lawsuit brought by aggrieved PDP members—comprising Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South)—was not an internal party dispute but a legal effort to compel INEC to fulfill its statutory duties.

“Compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and party guidelines is at the heart of democratic governance and must be strictly enforced,” Justice Onyemenam stated.

The court affirmed that the Federal High Court’s injunction, issued on October 31, 2025, correctly restrained INEC from recognizing the Ibadan convention until all legal provisions were fully met.

The lower court had earlier highlighted that:

• The PDP’s national chairman acted without the national secretary in issuing notices, invalidating the correspondences.
• Mandatory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to INEC was not observed.
• Lack of compliance put the convention in legal jeopardy.

The nine defendants in the case included INEC, PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, NWC and NEC of the party, and officials Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Justice Onyemenam’s ruling consolidates the position that the Turaki faction cannot proceed with or claim legitimacy from the Ibadan convention.