A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in the state on November 15, 2025, dealing a fresh blow to the opposition party amid its ongoing internal crisis.
The convention, which produced Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as national chairman, drew delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. However, the exercise deepened divisions within the party, as some aggrieved members had earlier approached the court to stop the gathering.
Despite pending court orders restraining the event, the faction loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, went ahead with the convention.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Uche Agomoh declared the convention invalid and restrained all individuals elected during the exercise from presenting themselves as leaders of the party. The court held that the convention was conducted in clear violation of subsisting court orders.
Justice Agomoh ruled that the PDP could not disobey court directives and later seek judicial approval for actions taken in defiance of those same orders, stressing that respect for the rule of law is binding on all parties.
The court further recognised the caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the only legitimate National Working Committee of the PDP, pending the conduct of a properly convened national convention. The Anyanwu-led faction is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The ruling highlights the deepening legitimacy crisis within the PDP and underscores how prolonged factional disputes continue to weaken the party’s cohesion and authority, as it struggles to manage internal conflicts without judicial intervention.
