Oyo High Court Upholds PDP Convention, Turaki Chairman

A court in Nigeria has validated the November 2025 national convention of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), confirming Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as its substantive national chairman. The ruling, delivered by the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Friday, brings a decisive but contested legal victory to one faction in an ongoing party leadership crisis.

Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld an amended originating summons filed by claimant Folahan Malomo Adelabi. The judgment affirmed that the convention complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and other relevant laws. The court granted all 13 reliefs sought, which included directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to formally recognise the convention’s outcomes and the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Turaki. Motions for a stay of proceedings and for the suspension of the judgment, filed by representatives of a rival group, were dismissed. The court had previously rejected an application by the rival faction to join the case.

This validation directly contradicts an earlier ruling. On January 30, 2026, the Federal High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh, had nullified the same convention. That judgment found it was conducted in defiance of existing court orders and barred Turaki and other officers from parading themselves as national officials.

The conflicting high court decisions have deepened uncertainty within the PDP, leaving the party with two publicly declared leadership structures. While the Turaki-led NWC now has a fresh court endorsement, a rival bloc aligned with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has rejected the latest judgment as inconsequential.

The ultimate resolution now lies with the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where multiple appeals stemming from the dispute are pending. The appellate court has reserved its judgment, meaning the final legal position on the PDP’s legitimate national leadership remains uncertain as the party heads toward future electoral contests. The situation underscores the protracted nature of the internal conflict and its potential impact on the opposition party’s cohesion and strategy.