Appeal Court to Decide on Legality of PDP National Convention February 12
The Court of Appeal in Abuja will begin hearing cases on February 12, 2026, to decide whether the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, was legal.
A three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma fixed the date after reviewing eight separate appeals.
The appeals are challenging the November 15 and 16, 2025 convention that produced a new national executive led by Tanimu Turaki.
The appeals came from three different judgments concerning the convention.
They were filed by a group loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The group is challenging the influence of loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, within the party.
Before the convention was held, there were conflicting court orders.
Two judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja had stopped the PDP from holding the convention.
However, a High Court in Ibadan allowed the convention to go ahead and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor and recognize its outcome.
Justice Olaniran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court ruled that INEC should attend and supervise the convention.
His order came about three days after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled that INEC should not participate in or recognize the convention.
Justice Akintola also ordered that no one should disrupt or stop the convention until the main case was fully heard.
On the other hand, Justice Omotosho ruled that INEC must not recognize any convention that does not follow the law.
He said the PDP did not comply with its own rules and the Electoral Act in organizing the convention.
He added that although courts usually do not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, this case involved INEC’s legal responsibility to ensure political parties follow electoral laws.
Justice Omotosho said INEC has the power to invalidate party conventions that do not follow the law, even if it cannot stop the events from taking place.
In another related case, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the PDP from going ahead with the convention because former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido was allegedly excluded from contesting the position of national chairman.
The Court of Appeal has now agreed to carefully examine all the arguments from both sides during the February 12 hearing. Its decision is expected to determine the future leadership of the PDP.
