BREAKING: Supreme Court Nullifies PDP Ibadan Convention

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has invalidated the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, dealing a significant blow to a faction of the party led by Tanimu Turaki.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled by a majority decision that the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction lacked merit. The court upheld the earlier decisions of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had declared the convention invalid.

In the lead judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah, the court held that the appellants went ahead with the convention in violation of a valid subsisting order of the Federal High Court that had restrained them from doing so.

The apex court dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals, directing all parties involved to bear their respective legal costs.

The justices noted that there was no dispute over the disobedience of the court order. The court also agreed with the lower courts that the faction abused judicial processes by allegedly securing a conflicting order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan after the initial restraining order had been issued.

Citing relevant constitutional provisions, Justice Adah affirmed that political parties are bound to strictly adhere to the rule of law, including compliance with court orders, electoral guidelines, and the Nigerian Constitution in conducting their internal affairs.

The appeal had sought to overturn the March 9 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the Federal High Court’s decision nullifying the convention and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome.

The Supreme Court had reserved judgment in the matter on April 22 after hearing arguments from all parties.

More details to follow…