The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fixed tomorrow, Thursday, February 12 to hear multiple suits challenging the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, chaired by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, will consider eight separate appeals questioning the validity of the convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC), reports The Guardian.
The appeals arise from conflicting judgments delivered by three judges of the Federal High Court and one judge of a State High Court, reflecting the deep legal rift surrounding the convention.
The disputed convention was organised in November 2025 by a faction of the PDP, during which 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, the PDP was caught between contradictory court orders on whether the exercise should proceed.
On October 31, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the party from conducting the convention. Delivering the ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that evidence before the court showed the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses ahead of the convention, contrary to provisions of the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
However, on November 4, 2025, Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court ordered the PDP and its former national chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention scheduled for November 15.
The controversy deepened on November 11, 2025, when Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja again restrained the party from holding the convention, citing alleged non-compliance with legal and procedural requirements.
Justice Lifu ruled that evidence presented by Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, showed that the timetable for the convention was not properly published to party members as required by law. He added that Lamido, described as a bona fide PDP member with an interest in contesting the position of national chairman, would suffer greater hardship if the interim injunction was not granted.
The PDP faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, did not participate in the Ibadan convention.
