Appeal Court to hear PDP convention suits February 12

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fixed February 12 to hear a number of cases challenging the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

A three-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Danjuma set the date to consider eight separate appeals questioning the validity of the convention which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The appeals stem from judgments earlier delivered by three judges of the Federal High Court and one judge of a state high court.

The appellate court is expected to examine the issues raised in the different rulings and determine whether the convention complied with the law.

In November 2025, a faction of the PDP convened a national convention in Ibadan, where 20 members of the NWC were elected.

Those elected included Tanimu Turaki as national chairman; Hamza Akuyan Koshe as deputy national chairman (north); Daniel Ambrose Woye as deputy national chairman (south); and Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo as national secretary.

In the days leading up to the convention, courts issued conflicting orders on whether the event should proceed.

On October 31, 2025, the federal high court in Abuja restrained the PDP from conducting the convention.

James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that evidence before the court indicated that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses ahead of the planned convention, contrary to provisions of the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the party’s constitution.

However, on November 4, 2025, A.L. Akintola, judge of a high court in Oyo state, directed the PDP and Umar Damagum, the party’s former national chairman, to proceed with the convention scheduled for November 15.

On November 11, 2025, Peter Lifu, judge of the federal high court in Abuja, again restrained the PDP from holding the convention.

Lifu based the order on alleged non-compliance with legal and procedural requirements. He held that the evidence presented by Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, showed that the timetable for the convention was not properly published for party members as required by law.

The judge added that Lamido, described as a bona fide PDP member with an interest in contesting for national chairman, would suffer greater hardship if the interim order was not granted.

The PDP faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), did not participate in the convention.

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