Nigeria’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, delivering a decisive judgment that reinforces the supremacy of court orders in political party affairs.
In a majority ruling delivered by Justice Stephen Adah, the apex court dismissed the appeal brought by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, describing it as lacking merit and constituting an abuse of court process.
The disputed convention, held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, had been conducted despite a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, delivered earlier by Justice James Omotosho. That order restrained the party from proceeding with the convention until certain conditions were met, including allowing Sule Lamido to contest for the position of national chairman.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Adah was unequivocal in condemning the actions of the Turaki-led faction. He held that rather than challenge the Federal High Court’s ruling through the proper appellate process, the appellants chose to approach another court of coordinate jurisdiction to secure a conflicting order.
“This court will not lend its machinery to any litigant who abuses the process of the court,” Justice Adah declared. “The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby nulled.”
The Supreme Court emphasised that once a party is aware of a valid court order, it is bound to obey it. The judgment underscored that political parties, as vehicles for democratic participation, must operate within the confines of the law and uphold the rule of law at all times.
Supporting the lead judgment were Justice Mohammed Garba and Justice Chidiebere Iheme, forming the majority that dismissed the appeal and affirmed earlier rulings of the lower courts.
The Turaki faction, represented by senior advocate Paul Erokoro, had urged the apex court to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier voided the convention for breaching a subsisting court order. The appellants also sought the dismissal of a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction aligned with Nyesom Wike.
However, the respondents argued that the matter went beyond internal party disputes and centred on the deliberate disobedience of a valid judicial directive. The courts agreed with this position, holding that the doctrine of internal party affairs could not shield actions taken in defiance of court orders.
“The issue here is not merely about party administration,” the judgment implied, “but about respect for the authority of the courts and the integrity of the legal system.”
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Haruna Samani maintained that questions surrounding party leadership and internal processes fall outside the jurisdiction of the courts, except in matters relating to primary elections. This position was supported by Justice Abubakar Umar, who cited established precedent that internal party affairs are generally non-justiciable.
Despite their disagreement with the majority on jurisdiction, both dissenting justices were clear that they did not condone the disobedience of court orders, reinforcing the broader principle that judicial directives must be respected.
The ruling brings to a head a prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, one that has seen deep divisions, expulsions, and counter-expulsions among party members. The nullification of the Ibadan convention effectively invalidates decisions taken during that gathering, further complicating the party’s internal dynamics.
In the aftermath of the crisis, a separate convention backed by Nyesom Wike was held in Abuja on March 29, 2026, producing Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. The faction led by Mohammed subsequently gained access to the party’s national secretariat, which had earlier been sealed by security agencies following clashes between rival groups.
Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s decision sends a strong message about the limits of political manoeuvring in the face of judicial authority. By affirming that court orders must be obeyed regardless of internal party considerations, the ruling reinforces the principle that no individual or organisation is above the law.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of future elections, the judgment is likely to have lasting implications for how parties conduct their internal processes and respond to judicial oversight.
