April 22, (THEWILL) — The Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Wednesday, reserved judgement in a decisive appeal that will determine the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after hearing arguments on the legality of the party’s disputed November 15–16, 2025 national convention held in Ibadan.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/166/2026, was brought by the faction led by Taminu Turaki, SAN, which emerged from the convention. The apex court adjourned to a date to be communicated after counsel adopted their final written addresses.
Proceedings were conducted before a five-member panel of the court led by Mohammed Lawal, which reserved judgement after taking arguments and submissions from parties in the dispute.
The hearing followed an earlier decision by the court to grant accelerated consideration of the appeal in view of the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which fixed April 23 for the commencement of submission of candidates by political parties. Parties were consequently directed to file and exchange all processes within a compressed timeframe ahead of the hearing.
Counsel to the appellants, Chris Uche, SAN, had urged the court to fast-track the matter, warning that the unresolved leadership dispute could jeopardise the PDP’s compliance with INEC’s schedule and its participation in the electoral process.
The dispute centres on the validity of the Ibadan convention, which produced the Turaki-led executive, but was nullified by lower courts over alleged breaches of subsisting court orders, the Electoral Act, and the party’s constitution.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, in a judgement delivered on March 9, affirmed the earlier decision of the Federal High Court presided over by James Omotosho, which voided the convention and restrained INEC from recognising its outcome.
Delivering the lead judgement, Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders and failed to meet mandatory legal requirements, including the conduct of valid state congresses. The court also found that the notice convening the exercise was defective for not complying with party guidelines.
Despite these rulings, the PDP remains polarised, with rival factions laying claim to legitimacy. A bloc aligned with Nyesom Wike has since conducted a separate convention in Abuja and secured judicial backing granting it access to the party’s national secretariat.
The Supreme Court’s pending decision is expected to determine the validity of the disputed convention, clarify the party’s authentic leadership, and resolve which faction the electoral body can lawfully recognise for candidate nomination.
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