Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effectively nullifying the party’s Ibadan national convention.
In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Stephen Adah, the court held that the November 15–16, 2025 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, violated an existing order of the Federal High Court.
The ruling referenced an earlier decision by Justice James Omotosho, which barred the party from proceeding with the exercise.
The apex court faulted the Turaki-led group for approaching another court of coordinate jurisdiction instead of filing an appeal, describing the action as an abuse of court process.
It warned that “any litigant who engages in the act of abuse of court process does so at his or her own peril,” before dismissing the appeal for lack of merit.
The appellants, through their counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN), had urged the court to uphold the convention and dismiss a cross-appeal backed by allies of Nyesom Wike.
However, respondents including Sule Lamido argued that the dispute was rooted in disobedience to a valid court order rather than internal party affairs.
Lamido had earlier secured an injunction restraining the PDP from holding the convention until he was allowed to contest for national chairman, an order the party ignored.
Reinforcing the principle of rule of law, the court declared: “The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby nulled,” adding, “This court will not lend its machinery to any litigant who abuses the process of the court. This appeal is lacking in merit and is hereby dismissed. Parties will bear their own costs.”
While Justices Haruna Samani and Abubakar Umar dissented on jurisdictional grounds, the judgment—backed by Justices Mohammed Garba and Chidiebere Iheme—upheld earlier rulings that voided the convention and underscored the obligation of political parties to obey court orders.
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