The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely to deliver judgment on nine appeals filed by rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging trial court rulings that blocked the party’s November national convention in Ibadan.
The convention, which had produced Tanimu Turaki, SAN as national chairman alongside other party officers, was stopped by three Federal High Court judgments over alleged breaches of the party’s Constitution and the Electoral Act. The appellate panel said a date for judgment would be communicated to parties after reviewing all written submissions.
In court, Chris Uche, SAN, representing the appellants, argued that Justice James Omotosho’s October 31, 2025 judgment was delivered outside the court’s jurisdiction. He asked the appellate court to dismiss the respondents’ preliminary objections and set aside the lower court’s ruling.
Meanwhile, Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel for the first to third respondents, maintained that the leadership of a political party is an internal matter beyond the Federal High Court’s authority. He urged the court to uphold the preliminary objections and dismiss the appeals. Other respondents filed similar objections, describing the appeals as lacking merit.
The appeals stem from judgments delivered by Justices James Omotosho, Peter Lifu, and Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Omotosho had, on October 30, 2025, restrained the PDP from holding its convention until it complied with statutory requirements. He ruled that INEC should not recognize or publish the outcome of any convention conducted in violation of the law, citing issues including incomplete state congresses, notices signed without the national secretary, and failure to provide the mandatory 21-day notice of meetings.
The judge further emphasized that non-compliance with INEC rules and subsidiary legislation falls outside internal party affairs, giving courts the authority to intervene. “This suit is not an internal affairs matter of the PDP, and plaintiffs have the legal right to institute action,” he held.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a separate ruling on November 11, 2025, also blocked the convention, noting the party’s failure to publish the timetable for the election. He cited a case brought by the former Jigawa State Governor, who alleged he was unfairly denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form for the chairmanship.
Appeals relating to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s ruling have also been filed, and the Court of Appeal has adopted all written submissions, reserving judgment to a future date.