By Eteteonline
In 2025, three disgruntled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members filed a lawsuit in the Federal High Court to prevent the PDP’s National Convention from taking place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
In October 2025, the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho stopped INEC from recognizing a report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the legal process of the law, as well as its norms and regulations. The judge ruled that if a party has not followed the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the rules and regulations of political parties, INEC is not allowed to give effect to the convention.
Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, filed a lawsuit against the PDP in another court, arguing that he was not permitted to attend the convention as a candidate for chairmanship. The Federal High Court’s Justice Peter Lifu granted Lamido’s requests, including a halt to the convention.
The PDP, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, filed an appeal against the Federal High Court’s two rulings, claiming that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because the issues at hand were exclusively party internal matters. Additionally, the PDP said that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to file the lawsuit.
On Monday, March 9, a three-member panel Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously decided the four grounds for resolution against the PDP and declared the appeal to be without merit.
Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu’s rulings from the Federal High Court were upheld by the Court of Appeal. It concluded that the October 31 ruling by the Federal High Court was appropriate.
The Appeal Court declared the national convention to be unlawful and prohibited the INEC from acknowledging its results, which included Taminu Turaki’s rise to party leadership.
The PDP (Turaki group) was also assessed N2 million in fees by the court for its pointless appeal.
After receiving the record of proceedings, the party is expected to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, according to Taminu Turaki, the national chairperson who was fired. He restates the claim that matters pertaining to a party’s internal affairs are outside the court’s jurisdiction.
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