The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in multiple appeals arising from the leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party over its controversial national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The appellate panel fixed a date to be communicated later after parties adopted their written briefs in the nine appeals challenging earlier rulings of the Federal High Court that halted the party’s November 15 and 16 convention.
The convention had produced Tanimu Turaki as national chairman alongside other party officers, but the process was contested by rival factions.
In one of the appeals, the PDP, its National Working Committee and National Executive Committee are seeking to overturn an October 2025 judgment that stopped the convention.
Counsel to the appellants argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction and urged the appellate court to set aside the ruling.
However, lawyers representing opposing factions maintained that the appeal lacked merit, insisting that disputes over party leadership fall outside the competence of the Federal High Court.
The legal battle stems from separate judgments delivered by different Federal High Court judges, including Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the PDP failed to comply with statutory provisions guiding party conventions and electoral processes.
The court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising any outcome of a convention conducted without adherence to due process, including mandatory notice requirements and compliance with the Electoral Act.
Other rulings similarly barred the party from proceeding with the convention and directed INEC not to supervise or publish its results, citing alleged breaches such as failure to conduct congresses in some states and irregular notification procedures.
With arguments now concluded, attention shifts to the Appeal Court’s final decision, which is expected to determine the legitimacy of the convention and shape the party’s future.
