Appeal Court Upholds Order Stopping INEC From Recognising PDP Convention Outcome

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan.

The convention took place from November 15 to November 16, 2025.
On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the national convention.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the four issues raised for determination against the PDP.
The court held that the appeal filed by the PDP lacked merit and affirmed that the Federal High Court was right to deliver the October 31, 2025 judgment and grant all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
The appellate court faulted the PDP’s argument that the trial court lacked jurisdiction.
According to the court, the plaintiffs had the legal standing to institute the suit in a bid to protect their democratic rights.
The court also rejected the PDP’s claim that it was denied fair hearing during the proceedings at the trial court.
As part of its ruling, the appellate court ordered the PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki to pay N2 million as costs, describing the appeal as frivolous.
The convention had produced a leadership team headed by Turaki.
However, some members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were suspended during the convention. The suspended members subsequently challenged their suspension in court.
On December 22, 2025, INEC rejected requests by the Turaki-led team asking the commission to recognise the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC), citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.
The commission referred to two Federal High Court rulings delivered in Abuja in October and November 2025, which restrained it from giving effect to the outcome of the Ibadan convention.
INEC stated that pending appeals do not automatically stay the execution of court judgments and emphasised that it remains bound by the law.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had earlier nullified the convention and barred Turaki and other officials who emerged from the exercise from acting as national officers of the party.
Despite the ruling, the Turaki-led PDP caucus insisted there was no cause for alarm and maintained that its leadership structure remained intact.
Following the development, the party announced that it had instructed its lawyers to file an appeal and pursue all available legal options to defend its position.