The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld the nullification of the party’s Ibadan National Convention and the suspension of some national officers, declaring that it will immediately challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party faction asserted that the operationalisation of the judgment could impose “untold hardship” on party members across the country, disclosing that consultations were ongoing with critical organs of the party on the next line of action.
Top Society reports that the appellate court had affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court which restrained the PDP from conducting its national convention over the exclusion of the former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido from contesting the chairmanship position.
In a unanimous judgment on Monday, a three-member panel of the court, presided over by Mohammed Ambi-Usi Danjuma, held that the PDP defied a valid subsisting order of the Federal High Court stopping the November 15 and 16, 2025, national convention.
The Court of Appeal further held that the PDP ought to have applied for a stay of execution or lodge an appeal against the judgement. It condemned the appellant’s contemptuous conduct and held that the trial court was right to have assumed jurisdiction over Lamido’s case and granted the reliefs he sought.
The appellate court also affirmed the suspension of some party officers, including former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and other affected officials, while upholding judgments earlier delivered by Justice James Omotosho and Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In its reaction to the verdict, the Turaki faction pointed out that the legal battle over internal leadership dispute in the PDP was far from over, adding that its lawyers had been directed to urgently file an appeal before the apex court.
According to the statement, the faction has already instructed its legal team to immediately approach the Supreme Court for a final determination of the dispute surrounding the convention.
It also called on party members across the country to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that the apex court would expeditiously resolve the matter in the interest of democracy.
“The battle to rescue our party from the hands of government agents masquerading as opposition leaders must be fought, and we are determined to do so and win,” the statement added.
The development marks another twist in the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen rival blocs within the party, including those aligned with Governor Seyi Makinde verses the camp of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who are locked in protracted struggle over the control and direction of Nigeria’s main opposition party.
