The Supreme Court on Thursday in a split decision of three to two justices nullified the 2025 National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo state.
The Apex Court affirmed the decision of Court of Appeal that voided and set aside the National Convention of the party held between November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan that produced Kabiru Taminu Turaki ,a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs as the national chairman.
It voided and set aside the national convention because it was conducted in flagrant disobedience to the Federal High Court judgment which put the Convention on hold until some conditions are met.
Justice Stephen Jona Adah who read the lead majority judgment held that disobedience to lawful order of court by the Governor Seyi Makinde led faction of PDP was an unpardonable one that must not be allowed in the interest of the rule of law and democracy.
The apex court held that going ahead with the convention despite the subsisting order against it was an affront to court authority and makes mockery of majesty of the judiciary and the court.
The majority judgment condemned the forum shopping embarked upon by the organizers of the convention by going to the High Court of Oyo state in Ibadan to secure favourable judgment.
While holding that the Federal High Court and the High Court of Oyo state are courts of coordinate jurisdiction, the Supreme Court condemned the Judge and the lawyers involved in the forum shopping adding that their action was shameful and embarrassing.
The apex court held that the product of the Convention having been held in disobedience to lawful order of court was fraudulent and should have no place in law.
The presiding Justice of the five man panel Justice Lawal Garba and a member of the panel Justice Iheme Nwosu agreed with Justice Adah decision.
However, Justices Haruna Simon Tsanami and Abubakar Sadiq Umar in the minority judgment held that the issue in dispute was an internal affairs of PDP a political party that ought not to have been adjudicated upon by any law court.
The two Justices also held that a former governor of Jigawa state Mr Sule Lamido did not explore internal conflict resolution of PDP before rushing to the Federal High Court to purse a suit on the internal affairs of his own party.
They therefore dismissed the suit on the ground that it was not justiceable.
A former governor of Jigawa state Sule Lamido had sued PDP on the ground that he was denied nomination form to participate at the Ibadan Convention.
The Federal High Court in its judgment ordered that the Convention must not hold until the form was sold to the former governor,
However, rather than obeying the court order, the Convention was conducted.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, had on November 11, 2025 restrained PDP, from holding its 2025 National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State between November 15 and 16.
The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from supervising, monitoring or recognizing the outcome of the National Convention where national officers were expected to be elected.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu issued the order while delivering ruling in an application brought by Sule Lamido.
Lamido, a foundation member of PDP had dragged the party before the court complaining that he was denied opportunity to buy Chairmanship nomination form to enable him participate in the convention.
The judge predicated the restriction order against PDP on the grounds that the party refused, neglected and failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
The judge had held that evidence from Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members as required by law.
Justice lifu had also held that the balance of convenience tilted towards Lamido because he would suffer more if allowed to be unlawfully excluded from the planned convention.
According to the Judge, in a Constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly followed by those in charge, adding that to do otherwise, will endanger democracy itself.
He also said that in line with section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, a court of law must not abdicate its role of dispensing justice without fear or favour.
Justice Lifu had held that anarchy would be the order of the day any time, anyday and anywhere the court abdicates its constitutionally assigned functions.
In his final pronouncement, the Judge restrained PDP from proceeding with the convention billed for November 15 and 16 or any other date in Ibadan or any other place.
He also stopped INEC from supervising, monitoring or recognizing the outcome of any convention that be organized by PDP.
It will be recalled that another Judge of the same court, James Omotosho had on October 31 issued similar orders stopping INEC from supervising or recognizing outcome of the convention if conducted.
His ground was predicated on the facts that due process was not followed in the way the convention was being planned.
Besides, Omotosho held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.
Justice Omotosho held that the failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy, and subsequently advised the PDP to do the necessary before going ahead with the election.
He, therefore, restrained INEC from receiving, publishing or recognizing the outcome of the convention slated for Ibadan, until the law has been complied with.