Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15th and 16th, 2025.
The court also barred a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Taminu Turaki, and others who emerged as National Working Committee (NWC) members from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP.
Also, the court ruled that the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu is the only recognised NWC of the PDP pending the conduct of a valid National Convention.
The Nation reports that the Kabiru Turaki faction of the PDP had filed Suit Number FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, seeking recognition of the convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025, and validation of the NWC that emerged at the convention
In a judgment by Justice Agomoh, the court held that the Convention was conducted in flagrant disobedience to two subsisting judgments of the same court, adding that returning to seek judicial approval for actions taken in defiance of court orders was an exercise in futility.
Consequently, all decisions taken at the convention were set aside by the court.
The suit: FHC/IB/CS/121/2025: is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Versus Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and six others, came up for judgment on Friday.
All the parties to the suit were present in court on Friday.
Mr E. Y. Ajayi appears for the Applicant, holding brief for Musibau Adetumbi SAN.
For the first respondent, O. A. Adeyemi appears for the 1st Respondent (INEC) with F. O. Ajiboye Esq.
Also, Chief. Ferdinand O. Orbih, SAN, Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, and Dike Udenna represented the 2nd to 4th Respondents, while 5th Mr A. P. Igbayilola appeared for the 5th to 7th Respondents.
Delivering the judgment in the open court, the court described the suit as a brazen attempt by the Applicant to legitimize its illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders, stressing that it cannot allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments.
“I hold that the caretaker committee is the only lawful governing body of PDP that INEC should recognise and relate with.
“This suit is a brazen attempt by the Applicant to legitimise its illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders. I cannot allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments.
“The Application fails and is dismissed”, the Judge said.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP Caretaker Committee, Chief Ferdinand Oshioke Orbih, SAN, described the ruling as a boost for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, the claimants had sought judicial endorsement of what he described as an illegal convention, but the court firmly rejected the move.
He said the judgment affirmed that the rule of law must prevail over political expediency, stressing that all actions and structures arising from the convention had been completely nullified.
Orbih added that the court’s decision underscored the inevitability of the caretaker committee taking charge of the party’s affairs until a valid convention is conducted in line with the law.
He noted that the ruling sends a strong message to political actors on the importance of obeying court judgments, warning that disregard for the rule of law could lead to chaos.
The judgment follows a protracted crisis within the PDP, which held a contentious national elective convention in Ibadan in November 2025 despite existing court orders.
Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the suspension of the PDP convention in a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Lamido had challenged the process, alleging that he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest for the party’s chairmanship, in violation of the PDP constitution and guidelines.
