Nigeria’s apex court has nullified the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, delivering a decisive ruling that invalidates the party’s controversial leadership process.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday in Abuja, the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared the convention “null, void and of no effect whatsoever,” effectively setting aside all decisions, resolutions, and appointments that emerged from the exercise.
The verdict specifically affects the factional National Working Committee led by former minister Tanimu Turaki, whose emergence as national chairman stemmed from the disputed convention. With the ruling, the Turaki-led leadership loses all legal standing within the party structure.
A five-member panel of justices issued the decision in a split ruling, dismissing appeals filed by the Turaki faction seeking to overturn earlier judgments that had invalidated the convention.
Background to the Dispute
The legal battle originated from multiple suits challenging the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention. Two Federal High Court judges had earlier restrained the PDP from proceeding with the exercise, citing violations of party guidelines and the exclusion of key aspirants.
One of the orders required the party to allow former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido to participate in the chairmanship race, while another questioned the validity of state congresses conducted in several states prior to the convention.
Despite these restraining orders, the PDP went ahead with the convention, relying on a conflicting judgment from an Oyo State High Court. The decision was subsequently challenged, leading the Court of Appeal to nullify the convention earlier in 2026, a position now upheld by the Supreme Court.
The ruling is widely seen as a major setback for the faction aligned with governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, while strengthening rival blocs within the party.
By voiding the convention, the apex court has effectively reset the PDP’s leadership structure, leaving the party to reorganize and conduct a fresh, legally compliant convention. Analysts say the judgment could significantly reshape internal power dynamics within Nigeria’s main opposition party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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The decision also prolongs the PDP’s internal crisis at a critical political moment, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) already rolling out timelines for party primaries ahead of the next election cycle.
As reactions continue to emerge, attention is expected to shift to how quickly the PDP can reconcile its factions and establish a unified leadership capable of mounting a credible challenge in the 2027 polls.
