The court of appeal in Abuja has fixed February 12 to hear a set of suits challenging the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo state.
A three-member panel led by Mohammed Danjuma scheduled the
hearing to consider eight separate appeals questioning the validity of the
convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki-led national working committee
(NWC).
The appeals arise from decisions delivered by three judges
of the federal high court and a judge of a state high court.
BACKGROUND
In November 2025, a faction of the PDP convened a national
convention in Ibadan, where 20 members of the NWC were elected. Those elected
included Tanimu Turaki as national chairman; Hamza Akuyan Koshe as deputy
national chairman (north); Daniel Ambrose Woye as deputy national chairman
(south); and Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo as national secretary.
In the days leading up to the convention, courts issued
conflicting orders on whether the event should proceed.
On October 31, 2025, the federal high court in Abuja
restrained the PDP from conducting the convention.
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that evidence
before the court indicated that the party failed to conduct valid state
congresses ahead of the planned convention, contrary to provisions of the 1999
Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
However, on November 4, 2025, A.L. Akintola, judge of a high
court in Oyo state, directed the PDP and Umar Damagum, the party’s former
national chairman, to proceed with the convention scheduled for November 15.
On November 11, 2025, Peter Lifu, judge of the federal high
court in Abuja, again restrained the PDP from holding the convention.
Lifu based the order on alleged non-compliance with legal
and procedural requirements. He held that the evidence presented by Sule
Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, showed that the timetable for the
convention was not properly published for party members as required by law.
The judge added that Lamido, described as a bona fide PDP
member with an interest in contesting for national chairman, would suffer
greater hardship if the interim order was not granted.
The PDP faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the
federal capital territory (FCT), did not participate in the convention.
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