The court of appeal in Abuja has scheduled February 12 to hear multiple appeals contesting the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Gatekeepers News reports that a three-member panel led by Mohammed Danjuma fixed the date to consider eight different appeals filed against judgments delivered by three judges of the federal high court and one judge of a state high court. The suits are challenging the validity of the convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki-led national working committee (NWC).
The convention, organised by a faction of the party, resulted in the election of 20 national officers, including Tanimu Turaki as national chairman, Hamza Akuyan Koshe as deputy national chairman (north), Daniel Ambrose Woye as deputy national chairman (south), and Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo as national secretary.
The convention was held amid intense legal battles and internal party divisions, with courts issuing conflicting rulings in the days leading up to the event. On October 31, 2025, the federal high court in Abuja restrained the PDP from conducting the convention, citing the party’s failure to conduct valid state congresses in line with the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
However, on November 4, 2025, a high court in Oyo state ordered the PDP and its former national chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention. This ruling was later countered on November 11, 2025, when another federal high court in Abuja again stopped the convention, citing alleged non-compliance with legal and procedural requirements.
The court held that evidence presented by Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa state, showed that the convention timetable was not properly published to party members as required by law. The judge added that Lamido, who had declared an interest in contesting for national chairman, would suffer greater hardship if the order was not granted.
Despite the conflicting rulings, the convention went ahead in Ibadan. However, the PDP faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), boycotted the event, further deepening the internal crisis within the party.
The outcome of the appeal court hearing is expected to have far-reaching implications for the leadership structure, internal stability, and future direction of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
