By Eteteonline
The Federal High Court in Ibadan has declared that the PDP National Convention conducted in Ibadan in November 2025 is unlawful and without legal effect since it breached existing court orders. The question has emerged as to what the verdict implies for the PDP’s leadership going forward, including how power is formed presently, the legal uncertainty, and the political consequences.
The court decided that all decisions and leadership positions formed at that Ibadan convention, including the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), are set aside. It specifically prevented Turaki and others elected at that conference from participating as national officers of the party.
By nullifying the Ibadan convention and robbing the Turaki group of its claimed leadership authority, the court created a temporary vacuum at the top of Nigeria’s biggest opposition party.
That vacuum is filled by the Caretaker Committee, but only temporarily until a lawful convention elects a new leadership. This implies the PDP’s accepted leadership for now is the Abdulrahman-led Caretaker Committee, alongside Senator Samuel Anyanwu, until a lawful convention is convened.
This is important because without a legitimately elected leadership, the PDP cannot claim a fully genuine internal national organization. In addition, the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, including candidate selection and strategy, could be delayed or legally challenged.
The Turaki group has rejected the Ibadan Federal High Court verdict and launched an appeal at a higher court. On appeal, a higher court could uphold, reverse, or alter the lower court’s ruling. This means the leadership conclusion is not definite yet.
While the appeal is pending, the court decision banning Turaki and others from acting as national officials remains in force unless a court declares differently. The Caretaker Committee continues to handle party affairs.
The court judgment has influenced internal party dynamics and escalated factional strife. This decision has inflamed divisions within the PDP rather than addressed them. Some party factions praise the judgment for respecting the rule of law; others see it as exacerbating an already acrimonious leadership situation.
Even after the court’s order, certain leaders, e.g., PDP Board of Trustees figures, have publicly challenged the decision’s ramifications, arguing that their leadership remains valid, contributing to internal confusion.
Based on the court’s verdict, there are major practical repercussions for the PDP’s future plan. The party must operate under the caretaker system for now. Any decisions or acts made by the now-nullified Ibadan leadership, including nominations, financing, or alliances, lack legal standing until a legitimate convention is convened.
Planning for 2027 and the selection of candidates are affected. The PDP runs the risk of postponing national and state candidate primary elections, submitting candidate lists to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and coordinating campaign strategies in the absence of a fully acknowledged leadership. These uncertainties can hurt the party ahead of the 2027 elections, including not having candidates to compete on its platform.
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