The Supreme Court reserved judgment in the PDP convention crisis appeal

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ruled in the ongoing leadership dispute within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following an appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction challenging the cancellation of the party’s 2025 national convention.

The apex court, which convened in Abuja on Wednesday, adjourned the decision-making process after hearing final arguments from all parties. A five-member panel headed by Justice Lawal Garba revealed that the date of the verdict would be communicated in due course.

The Turaki-led faction asked the court to overturn the Court of Appeal’s March 9 decision, which upheld an earlier decision canceling the PDP convention in Ibadan held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

Before the Supreme Court, the faction stated that the problem was purely internal and could not be legally examined. They argued that holding the convention complied with legal processes and party guidelines.

Despite these claims, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled against the faction, annulling the convention and issuing orders prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the results of the convention.

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An appeals court has upheld two separate rulings from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which also restricted the party’s access to its national secretariat and barred the party from proceeding with the convention until it complies with the Elections Law and the 2022 Political Parties Regulations and Guidelines.

In one of his earlier judgments, Justice James Omotosho stated that the PDP failed to convene a valid state congress in accordance with the constitution and electoral requirements, thereby rendering the convention invalid.

Similarly, Justice Peter Lifu issued an order to halt the process, and directed the party to allow former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, to contest for the position of national chairman after ruling that he had been unfairly excluded from the process.

The legal battle was sparked by lawsuits filed by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo, Abia and South-South regions, which escalated into a protracted leadership crisis that now awaits a final ruling from the Supreme Court.

With the decision in mind, the fate of the PDP’s disputed convention—and by extension, its leadership structure—now hinges on the Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected to determine the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.