Abuja: The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that took place in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. The appellate court ruled that it was improper for the party to proceed with the convention despite an existing order from the Federal High Court to halt proceedings until specific conditions were met.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on November 14, 2025, ordered the PDP not to proceed with the convention until the Chairmanship nomination form was sold to Sule Lamido, a Chairmanship aspirant and former governor of Jigawa state. The judgment delivered on Monday by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, leading a three-member panel of judges, stated that the PDP was in error with its actions.
The appellate court found that the PDP opted for a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which provided a favorable judgment, instead of appealing against the Federal High Court’s decision. Justice Onyemenam emphasized that the denial of lawful rights could not be dismissed under the pretext of internal affairs, noting that internal affairs were not beyond judicial scrutiny.
Justice Onyemenam criticized the Turaki faction for disobeying a lawful order, accusing them of seeking self-help through another court to obtain a favorable judgment. The court condemned this action as contemptuous and awarded a cost of N2 million against the PDP.
The Federal High Court had previously prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing the results of the National Convention where national officers were to be elected. Justice Lifu issued this order following an application by Sule Lamido, who argued that he was unjustly denied the chance to purchase the Chairmanship nomination form, thereby hindering his participation in the convention.
The court held that the PDP’s failure to publish the convention timetable violated the law, and Justice Lifu emphasized that due process must be strictly followed, warning that deviation could threaten democracy. Justice Lifu also stressed the court’s constitutional duty to dispense justice impartially, warning that failure to do so would lead to anarchy.
Justice Lifu’s order restrained the PDP from proceeding with the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, or any other date in Ibadan or elsewhere.