Turaki heads to Appeal Court after Ibadan convention ruling

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has described the recent Federal High Court judgment nullifying the party’s Ibadan national convention as “academic,” saying it will be challenged at the Court of Appeal.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Turaki disclosed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for Stay of Execution, adding that the leadership would pursue the case to its legal conclusion.

The Federal High Court in Ibadan had voided the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15, 2025, and restrained Turaki and other members of the NWC from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Despite the ruling, Turaki insisted that the judgment does not settle the matter, noting that similar cases are already before the appellate court.

“In that sense, this particular judgment is technically academic, pending the authoritative pronouncement of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

He explained that the party had initially approached the court to seek an order of mandamus compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Ibadan convention and allow official communication with the commission.

According to him, a caretaker committee aligned with the FCT Minister, including Mohammed and Anyanwu, later joined the suit and opposed the request.

However, he argued that the court granted reliefs that were not sought by any of the parties and that the decision conflicted with earlier judgments by 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,” Turaki said.

He assured party members that the NWC elected at the Ibadan convention remains intact and fully functional.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee produced by the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the PDP,” he added.

The dispute follows internal divisions within the party. PDP governors had backed the Ibadan convention that produced Turaki and other NWC members for a four-year tenure, while a faction aligned with the FCT Minister set up a 13-member caretaker committee to run the party for 60 days.

Both camps sought recognition from INEC, which declined, prompting multiple court cases ahead of the 2027 elections.

Turaki said several appeals related to the party’s leadership crisis are already pending before the Court of Appeal and expressed confidence that they would soon be heard.

He called for the consolidation of all related cases to ensure a single, binding judgment that would resolve the dispute.

“It is desirable that the appeals be consolidated so that one binding judgment will apply to all parties,” he said, adding that such a move would bring closure to the lingering leadership tussle.

The Wike-backed faction, however, has welcomed the Ibadan court ruling restraining Turaki and others from acting as members of the NWC.