BREAKING: Court of Appeal dismisses Turaki’s appeal, nullifies Ibadan PDP convention

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has affirmed the judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which halted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The convention had elected Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as the National Chairman of the party.

A three-member panel of appellate justices, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, agreed with the lower court that the Ibadan convention could not stand because there was no proper conduct of congresses leading up to it.

The panel emphasised that adherence to due process in party congresses is essential for the legitimacy of any national convention.

The court also dismissed the Turaki-led faction’s claim that the issues raised were purely internal matters of the party.

The justices stated that the court has jurisdiction to intervene when the process of electing party leadership does not follow the proper legal and organisational framework.

Arguments Over Jurisdiction and Legal Representation

Earlier in the proceedings, the Turaki faction had argued that Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, insisting that the matter concerned only the party’s internal affairs.

The appellate panel, however, rejected this argument, affirming that the court was right to examine whether the Ibadan convention was legally valid.

The court also considered preliminary objections raised by the respondents, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

This group contended that Chief Chris Uche, SAN, was not a proper legal representative for the PDP in the case. The appellate court dismissed this objection, ruling that it lacked merit.

The justices noted that the former PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, had already been suspended by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), confirming that Chief Uche’s representation was valid.

With the Court of Appeal’s decision, the Turaki-led Ibadan convention remains nullified, and the earlier Federal High Court ruling stands as the authoritative verdict on the matter.