The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Friday after an Oyo State High Court upheld the party’s 2025 National Convention held in Ibadan. However, a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the ruling and described it as of no effect.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court delivered the judgment in Suit No I/1336/2025. The court affirmed that the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan was valid and in line with the law.
The convention produced former minister Tanimu Turaki as the substantive National Chairman of the PDP. His emergence followed the endorsement of the convention by PDP governors, who supervised the transition from former acting chairman, Umar Damagum.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, who had approached the court to seek clarity on the legality of the convention. The court held that the exercise complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and the PDP constitution.
The judge ruled that all necessary notices were properly issued, including the statutory notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated August 29, 2025. According to the court, all legal conditions for holding the convention were satisfied, whether or not INEC monitored the exercise.
The court also declared that stopping the convention would amount to a violation of the right to peaceful assembly and association guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. It held that those who attempted to prevent the convention had no legal basis to do so.
Justice Akintola further directed INEC to give effect to the outcome of the convention and continue to recognise the leadership that emerged from it, pending any contrary decision by a higher court. The court dismissed motions seeking to suspend the ruling and earlier rejected an application for joinder by other interested parties.
But shortly after the judgment, the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee rejected the ruling. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the faction said the judgment was “inconsequential” and described it as a mere academic exercise.
The faction argued that the ruling did not bind INEC because the commission was allegedly not properly joined as a party in the suit. According to the group, any decision that does not compel INEC to act is of no practical value in the matter.
The Wike camp also insisted that earlier judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Ibadan had restrained INEC from attending, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention. It maintained that arrangements were already in advanced stages to conduct a fresh National Convention.
On the other hand, the Turaki-led National Working Committee welcomed the judgment and described it as a victory for internal democracy. In a statement signed by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the leadership said the ruling affirmed that the convention was conducted properly and transparently.
The Turaki camp praised the judiciary for what it called courage and commitment to justice. It expressed confidence that higher courts would also uphold the law without fear or favour if the matter proceeds on appeal.
The PDP crisis dates back to late 2025, when divisions deepened within the party over leadership succession. After the November convention in Ibadan produced Turaki and other national officers for a four-year term, a faction loyal to Wike rejected the outcome.
On December 8, 2025, the Wike-aligned faction announced a 13-member caretaker committee. The committee appointed Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, with a 60-day mandate to organise a new convention.
Tension within the party escalated on November 18, 2025, when both factions attempted to meet at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. The meeting ended in chaos and physical confrontation. The police later sealed the secretariat to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Following the crisis, both factions approached INEC, seeking recognition as the authentic leadership of the party. However, the electoral commission declined to recognise either side, citing ongoing court cases.
The legal battle intensified on January 30 this year when a Federal High Court in Ibadan annulled the November 15 convention and directed Turaki and others to stop parading themselves as national officers. That decision further complicated the situation and led to appeals by the affected parties.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard consolidated cases relating to the PDP leadership crisis. The court reserved judgment, and the date for delivery is yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, the Wike-backed caretaker committee has announced plans to hold a fresh National Convention in Abuja on March 29 and 30 to elect new leaders. This move has raised concerns among party members about further division if the courts do not provide clear direction before then.
Many stakeholders have called for reconciliation to prevent lasting damage to the party’s structure. Some party elders believe that prolonged court cases may hurt the PDP’s chances of presenting a strong front in future elections.
The latest ruling by the Oyo State High Court has added another layer to the complex legal dispute. While one camp sees it as a final confirmation of the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention, the other insists that the matter is far from over.