…Slams Party With ₦2m Costs
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging earlier court decisions that restrained the party from proceeding with its controversial national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved all four issues for determination against the opposition party, holding that the appeal lacked merit and affirming the earlier rulings of the Federal High Court.
The court also ordered the PDP, specifically the faction associated with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, to pay N2 million in costs for filing what it described as a frivolous appeal.
The judgment is the latest development in the prolonged legal battle surrounding the party’s national convention held between November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan, which was intended to elect new national officers to lead the party.
The appellate court affirmed the 31 October 2025 judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of any national convention conducted by the PDP without complying with due process.
Justice Omotosho had ruled that INEC could not give effect to the outcome of such a convention if it was not conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the guidelines and regulations governing political parties.
The suit that led to the ruling was filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP who sought to stop the convention scheduled for Ibadan, arguing that the party had breached its constitution and internal rules.
The defendants in the case included INEC, the PDP, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee, as well as Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
In its decision, the Court of Appeal rejected the PDP’s argument that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction because the matter concerned the party’s internal affairs.
The appellate court held that the plaintiffs had locus standi to approach the court to protect their democratic rights and ruled that the trial court correctly entertained the suit.
It also dismissed the party’s claim that it was denied fair hearing.
In a related appeal, the Court of Appeal also upheld another ruling delivered on 14 November 2025 by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which barred the PDP from holding the Ibadan convention without allowing former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to participate as a candidate for the party’s national chairmanship.
Justice Lifu ruled that Lamido was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form, thereby preventing him from contesting the position.
Affirming that decision, the appellate court held that the PDP’s decision to proceed with the convention despite the subsisting order of the Federal High Court was contemptuous and showed disrespect to the court.
The panel emphasised that it was not for a litigant to decide which court order to obey.
The court stated that “it is not for any party in a case to decide which order to obey or ignore.”
According to the justices, the PDP ought to have sought a stay of execution of the judgment or filed an appeal before going ahead with the convention.
Like the earlier appeal, the court dismissed the PDP’s challenge for lacking merit and again awarded ₦2 million in costs against the party.
The courtroom was filled with PDP leaders from rival camps during Monday’s proceedings.
Among those sighted were members of the group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and another faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
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