Oyo court affirms legality of 2025 PDP Ibadan convention

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has upheld the validity of the 2025 elective National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Kabiru Turaki as the party’s substantive National Chairman.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled that the convention was conducted in full compliance with the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria, thereby affirming its legality in its entirety.

The decision marks a significant legal victory for the party’s leadership and effectively settles the dispute surrounding the legitimacy of the November 15 and 16, 2025 convention held in Ibadan.

The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, in Suit No. I/1336/2025. In a detailed judgment, the court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, endorsing both the processes and the outcome of the convention.

Among the issues considered was whether, pursuant to Articles 33(7), 47(1) and (2) of the party’s Constitution (as amended in 2017) and Section 223(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the defendants had any legal authority to halt or truncate the elective National Convention. The court also examined whether statutory requirements, including proper notice, were complied with.

In its findings, the court declared that under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the defendants were obligated to respect the claimant’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. It held that failure to conduct the National Convention would amount to a violation of that constitutional right.

Justice Akintola further ruled that, in line with Sections 223(1)(a) and 223(2)(a) of the Constitution and Section 82(1) and (2)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on August 29, 2025, all necessary requirements for the convention were duly satisfied, irrespective of whether INEC monitored the exercise.

The court declared that by the combined effect of Section 223 of the Constitution, Article 33(7) of the party’s Constitution, and the approved guidelines for party congresses and the National Convention effective May 1, 2024, the party was bound to conduct the convention for the democratic election of its principal national officers.

It held that the defendants were required to adhere to the approved guidelines adopted by the party’s National Executive Committee and, following the expiration of the nomination period, were under a binding obligation to convene the convention as scheduled.

Justice Akintola further ruled that once convened, the convention was deemed properly constituted, with its outcome binding on all relevant authorities and persons.

In a consequential declaration, the court held that the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, pursuant to its orders of November 3 and renewed on November 14, was legal and valid.

As INEC was a party when the interim orders were made and renewed, the court ruled that the outcome is binding on the commission, which is obliged to give effect to its decisions pending any contrary pronouncement by a higher court.

The court found that the convention, organised by the recognised leadership of the party, met all legal requirements under the Constitution and the Electoral Act, with no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance.

In the same proceedings, the court dismissed a Motion on Notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others, describing the applications as lacking merit.

Earlier, the court had also rejected an application to join Ibrahim’s clients in the suit, ruling that the joinder request was unsubstantiated and dismissing it accordingly.