annulled PDP convention
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been thrown into deeper turmoil following a Federal High Court ruling that upheld the annulled PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, sharply dividing the party between the camp led by Kabiru Turaki and supporters aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The court decision, delivered in Ibadan, nullified the national convention organised by the PDP in November 2025, declaring it invalid on grounds of non-compliance with subsisting court orders and internal party regulations. The judgment voided all decisions and elections arising from the convention, effectively stripping the Turaki-led National Working Committee of legal recognition.
The ruling has triggered contrasting reactions within the party. While Turaki and his allies expressed anger and vowed to challenge the verdict, the Wike-aligned faction openly welcomed the outcome, describing it as a victory for the rule of law and internal democracy.
According to the court, the annulled PDP convention was conducted in clear defiance of earlier judicial orders restraining the party from holding any national elective congress until ongoing disputes were resolved. The judge held that proceeding with the convention under such circumstances rendered the entire exercise unlawful and incapable of producing a legitimate leadership.
The judgment further affirmed that recognising outcomes from the annulled PDP convention would amount to endorsing disobedience to court orders, a situation the court said could not be allowed in a constitutional democracy.
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Reacting to the ruling, Turaki’s camp described the judgment as deeply flawed and politically disruptive. Party officials loyal to him said the ruling failed to take into account earlier decisions from courts of coordinate jurisdiction that had favoured the convention. They accused rival factions of using the judiciary to destabilise the party from within.
Turaki’s allies insisted that the leadership elected at the convention remains valid until a higher court decides otherwise. They announced that a notice of appeal had been filed and that they would seek a stay of execution to prevent the immediate enforcement of the ruling. According to them, the annulled PDP convention remains a subject of judicial review and should not be treated as conclusively settled.
In sharp contrast, the Wike camp hailed the judgment as a landmark decision that restores order and legality to the party’s affairs. Supporters of the caretaker committee aligned with Wike said the ruling vindicated their long-standing position that the Ibadan convention was rushed, unlawful, and designed to sideline dissenting voices within the PDP.
For the Wike faction, the court’s affirmation of the annulled PDP convention strengthens the authority of the caretaker leadership and reinforces their argument that internal reconciliation should precede any national convention. They argued that the party cannot rebuild public trust while disregarding its own rules and judicial directives.
The political implications of the annulled PDP convention extend beyond factional celebrations and outrage. The crisis has exposed deep fractures within the party, particularly between some PDP governors who supported the Ibadan convention and other power blocs aligned with Wike. Analysts warn that prolonged infighting could weaken the PDP’s ability to function as a credible opposition force.
Observers note that the annulled PDP convention has compounded existing leadership uncertainty, leaving the party without a universally accepted national leadership at a time when strategic reorganisation is critical. With key elections on the horizon, the lack of internal cohesion could undermine mobilisation, fundraising, and candidate selection.
Legal experts say the next phase of the crisis will depend largely on the outcome of the appeal process. If an appellate court overturns the ruling, the leadership elected at the Ibadan convention could regain legitimacy. However, if the judgment is upheld, the caretaker committee recognised by the court would remain in control until a fresh, court-compliant convention is organised.
Beyond the legal contest, party elders and stakeholders have begun calling for restraint and dialogue. Some senior figures warn that continued public feuding over the annulled PDP convention risks eroding the party’s image among supporters already disillusioned by years of internal strife.
There are also concerns that the crisis could spill into state chapters, where rival factions may align themselves with either camp, further destabilising party structures nationwide. In several states, party officials are reportedly awaiting direction on which leadership to recognise following the court ruling.
Despite the tension, both camps have publicly urged PDP members to remain calm. Turaki’s faction maintains confidence in the judiciary and insists the appeal process will restore what it describes as the rightful leadership. The Wike camp, meanwhile, has called on the party to use the ruling as an opportunity to reset and rebuild on the basis of legality and inclusiveness.
The saga surrounding the annulled PDP convention has once again highlighted the challenges of managing internal democracy within Nigeria’s major political parties. As the legal battle continues, the PDP stands at a crossroads. Whether it emerges stronger or further divided will depend not only on court decisions, but on the willingness of its leaders to place the party’s long-term survival above factional interests.
For now, the annulled PDP convention remains both a legal verdict and a political symbol — one that has deepened old divisions while forcing the party to confront unresolved questions about leadership, legitimacy, and internal governance.
