ABUJA – The legal battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached its climax on Wednesday as the Supreme Court reserved judgment in two appeals seeking to validate the party’s controversial National Convention held in Ibadan last November.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, announced that a date for the final verdict would be communicated to all parties after lawyers adopted their final written addresses.
The Legal War
The appeals were filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, which enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. They are challenging previous rulings from the Court of Appeal which effectively nullified the Ibadan convention and the leadership that emerged from it.
The two critical appeals before the court are:
- SC/CV/164/2026: This appeal seeks to overturn the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu, which stopped the PDP from holding the convention on the grounds that it unlawfully excluded former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, from the chairmanship race.
- SC/CV/166/2026: This appeal challenges the decision of Justice James Omotosho, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the Ibadan convention because the party failed to meet mandatory “conditions precedent” before the exercise.
Arguments in Court
During the proceedings on Wednesday, counsel for the appellants urged the court to set aside the lower court’s decisions, arguing that the selection of party leadership is an internal matter.
However, the respondents maintained that the convention was a “nullity” because it was conducted in open defiance of subsisting court orders. The Court of Appeal had previously agreed with this stance, ruling that the party could not build a legal leadership on a foundation of “disobedience to the law.”
High Stakes for 2027
The Supreme Court’s upcoming judgment is expected to be the final word on the protracted leadership crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
If the court rules in favor of the Makinde-backed Turaki faction, the Ibadan convention will be legalized. If it dismisses the appeals, the PDP may be forced to return to the status quo or organize a fresh national convention under the supervision of the rival faction’s caretaker committee.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the verdict will determine who holds the legal authority to sign off on candidate nominations and manage the party’s national machinery.
