The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging a Federal High Court ruling that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the party’s planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved all four issues raised in the appeal against the PDP, describing the appeal as lacking merit.
The court affirmed the earlier ruling delivered on October 31 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, which restrained INEC from validating the outcome of the PDP’s proposed national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
According to the appellate court, the Federal High Court acted within its powers when it granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in the original suit.
The panel rejected the PDP’s argument that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case on the grounds that the dispute concerned the party’s internal affairs.
Instead, the court held that the plaintiffs had the locus standi (the legal right) to institute the action in order to protect their democratic rights within the party.
It also dismissed the PDP’s claim that it was denied fair hearing during the proceedings.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered the PDP faction linked to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki to pay ₦2 million as costs for filing what the court described as a frivolous appeal.
Several leaders and members of the party were present in court during the ruling. Observers noted the presence of rival factions within the party, including groups led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Also present was Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Mohammed-led National Working Committee, who was seen exchanging pleasantries with Turaki after the court session.
The case originated from a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party who sought to halt the planned convention on the grounds that it violated the party’s constitution and procedures.
In the October 2025 ruling, Justice Omotosho held that INEC could not recognise or act on the outcome of any party convention that was conducted in violation of the party constitution, the Electoral Act, or established guidelines regulating political parties.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to stop the PDP from holding the November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan, where new national officers were expected to be elected.
The suit listed nine defendants, including INEC, the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), acting national chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
The appellate court indicated that it would proceed to hear other pending judgments and rulings relating to the internal dispute within the party.
