The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, February 12, 2026, reserved its judgement in nine separate appeals filed by rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concerning the party’s controversial national convention held in November 2025.
The Core Dispute
The appeals challenge earlier rulings by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had initially halted the convention on the grounds that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses. Despite these court orders, the PDP organizers proceeded with the convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
- Turaki Faction: The convention produced a National Working Committee (NWC) led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the National Chairman. This faction seeks to validate the exercise, claiming it was conducted legally under a separate Oyo State High Court order that cleared the event to proceed.
- Wike/Damagum Faction: A rival group, often associated with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former Acting Chairman Umar Damagum, continues to challenge the legitimacy of the Turaki-led leadership.
Legal Tussle
The three-member appellate panel, chaired by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, announced that the court would communicate a date for the final judgement after all parties adopted their written briefs.
The legal battle has centered on whether the PDP’s leadership had the right to proceed with the Ibadan convention in defiance of the Federal High Court’s restraining orders. A Federal High Court in Ibadan has already nullified the convention’s outcome, sacking the newly elected officers and affirming a caretaker committee instead.
