The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging an earlier ruling that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal lacked merit. The court affirmed the judgment delivered on October 31 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs and restrained INEC from recognising the convention’s outcome.
The appellate court resolved the four issues raised for determination against the PDP, holding that the lower court acted properly within its powers and jurisdiction when it delivered the judgment.
The disputed convention took place in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025. Prior to the appeal court’s ruling, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan had also nullified the convention, declaring that due procedures required by law were not followed in the organisation of the event.
Despite the earlier ruling, the PDP leadership led by Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had dismissed the judgment, describing it as merely academic and maintaining that the convention remained valid.
The legal dispute involved several defendants, including INEC, the PDP, the party’s National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Baturrle, as well as the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee. Other individuals named in the suit included the Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, along with party officials Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Delivering the lead judgment at the Court of Appeal complex in Abuja, Justice Onyemenam held that the PDP failed to comply with constitutional and statutory provisions required for the conduct of a valid national convention.
According to the court, one of the key violations was the party’s failure to properly notify INEC of the convention as required under the law. The judge noted that the electoral body must receive adequate and valid notice before a political party conducts such a major internal exercise.
The court also observed that the PDP did not conduct valid congresses in at least 14 states of the federation prior to the convention, a condition that must be fulfilled before a national convention can be legitimately convened under the party’s constitution and electoral regulations.
Justice Onyemenam further rejected the argument that the matter was purely an internal affair of the political party. The court held that the aggrieved members who instituted the case were not merely challenging internal party matters but were seeking to compel INEC to carry out its statutory duties in line with the law governing political party conventions.
The appellate court therefore concluded that the Federal High Court acted correctly when it assumed jurisdiction over the case and granted an order restraining INEC from recognising the outcome of the 2025 PDP national convention.
The court emphasized that strict adherence to constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and party guidelines is essential to sustaining democratic governance. It stressed that failure to comply with these legal requirements cannot be overlooked, particularly when such compliance forms the foundation of credible political processes in a democratic system.
The ruling effectively upholds the earlier decision preventing INEC from accepting or recognising the outcomes of the PDP’s 2025 national convention held in Ibadan.
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