PDP Crisis: Wike Wins All, as Supreme Court voids Ibadan convention

By Reporter

ABUJA — The Supreme Court has nullified the national convention held by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025, effectively invalidating the emergence of the Tanimu Turaki, SAN-led factional national executives.

The verdict followed a protracted legal battle over the legitimacy of the convention. Prior to the event, the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued orders restraining the party from proceeding, citing violations of party rules and electoral guidelines. One of the suits was filed by aggrieved party members, including former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who argued he was unjustly excluded from contesting for national chairman.

Despite these orders, the Turaki-led faction went ahead with the convention, a move later described by the courts as defiance of valid judicial directives.

The Federal High Court subsequently nullified the exercise and barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcome, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Dissatisfied, the Turaki faction approached the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the concurrent judgments of the lower courts. The apex court had reserved judgment after hearing arguments on April 22, 2026.

Delivering its ruling on Thursday, a majority of the five-member panel dismissed the appeal for lacking merit, affirming that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders.

The court also faulted the faction for engaging in what it described as an abuse of court process, including obtaining conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

With the decision, the apex court has upheld earlier rulings and dealt a significant blow to the Turaki-led faction, deepening the leadership crisis within the PDP.