Ibadan Convention: Court judgment technically-academic —Turaki-led PDP

The unending leadership drama in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued on Friday as an Ibadan Federal High Court nullified the November 15, 2025, national convention of the party, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).

But, the Turaki-led NWC immediately rejected the judgment on Friday, describing it as “technically-academic” and appealed it at the Court of Appeal. The camp also filed for a stay of execution of the judgment.

The development came as both the Turaki camp and the faction led by Honourable Mohammed Abdulrahman reacted to the decision of the court in Abuja.

While the Abdulrahman-led camp, which is backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, hailed the judgment, the Turaki-led NWC said the court’s intervention was at best a waste of judicial time, as it granted prayers not originally sought in the originating summons.

Turaki, who personally addressed a news conference in Abuja, disclosed that it was his camp that actually approached the court, seeking an order of mandamus for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the NWC produced from the Ibadan convention.

He explained that along the line, the Abdulrahman-led camp also asked to be joined in the suit by opposing the relief sought by the NWC.

Turaki noted, however, that while delivering its judgment, the court went beyond the prayers of the suit to make rulings on matters not before it.

Turaki said, “We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered earlier today, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought, on the ground that granting same would, in the considered opinion of the court, amount to sitting on appeal over the judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“For clarity, we approached the court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the Ibadan Convention and to facilitate official party communications with the Commission.

“In the course of the proceedings, some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled, applied to be joined and were so joined by the court. They filed processes urging the court not to grant our prayers, without more.

“However, and most respectfully, the court proceeded suo motu to grant reliefs that were neither prayed for nor canvassed by any of the parties. More importantly, the judgment is in material conflict with subsisting orders and previous judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“Consequently, we have filed a Notice of Appeal as well as a Motion for Stay of Execution of the judgment, and we are determined to pursue this matter diligently and to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law.”

He argued that Friday’s judgment merely added to the growing number of cases decided by the lower court on the PDP, adding that until all pending appeals were disposed of by the appellate court, all the judgments were of no effect.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this judgment is only one among several decisions of the Federal High Court on this subject matter, and the core issues arising therefrom are already before the Court of Appeal. In that sense, this particular judgment is, technically speaking, academic, pending the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.

“Let me assure all members of our great party that, notwithstanding this judgment, the National Working Committee produced by the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the Peoples Democratic Party”, he said.

However, the Abdulrahman-led faction of the party celebrated the decision of the court, noting that it received the judgment with “profound satisfaction.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Jungude Haruna Mohammed, in a reaction on behalf of the party, stated, “The landmark judgment which further nullified the conduct, outcome, and entire proceedings of the purported convention held in Ibadan on the 15th and 16th November 2025 represents a decisive victory for the rule of law, constitutionalism, and internal party democracy.

“It reaffirms the long-standing position of the PDP that legitimacy can only be derived from strict compliance with the Constitution of the party, extant laws, and valid court orders as against seeking for self-help through impersonation, or unlawful assertions of authority.

“The National Caretaker Working Committee therefore congratulates all its members and supporters for their patience, resilience, and unwavering faith in due process throughout this period, and further call on all members to remain calm, law-abiding, and united as we move forward in the spirit of reconciliation, progress, and renewed commitment to the ideals of our great Party.

“We appeal to all aggrieved members to sheathe their swords as this victory belongs to the entire PDP family.

“Our doors remain open for genuine reconciliation and integration. This will strengthen unity, deepen internal cohesion, and refocus collective efforts toward building a stronger and more formidable PDP.

“We commend the judiciary for once again rising to its constitutional responsibility as the impartial arbiter in political and constitutional disputes.”