The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors-backed Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee applauded the Oyo State High Court for upholding the legitimacy of the party’s Ibadan National Convention in November 2025.
The Turaki-led NWC, in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, welcomed the ruling as a victory for internal democracy and party unity.
On Friday, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan upheld the validity of the 2025 PDP National Convention, which was held on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan and saw Turaki elected to chair the National Working Committee.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of Court 5 made the decision after hearing a motion for joinder in the case.
The court granted all 13 reliefs asked for by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, through his lawyer, Musbau Adetunmbi.
In response, the PDP complimented the honorable court’s courage and dedication to upholding justice.
The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party has been informed of the judgment of the High Court of Oyo State, sitting in Ibadan, delivered by the Honorable Justice Ladiran Akintola.
“The court granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, declaring the National Convention held in Ibadan as properly conducted and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize and give full effect to all decisions and outcomes reached at the said convention, the same having been found to be proper and lawful.
“The suit was filed by Musbau Adetunbi, SAN, on behalf of his client, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, a card-carrying member of the party, to protect his constitutional right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. The suit sought, among other reliefs, an order compelling the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct its elections as publicly advertised and a further order directing INEC to honor the outcomes of the convention.
“The Honorable Court had earlier granted an order to that effect on November 3, 2025, and renewed the same on November 14, 2025—the legal basis upon which the convention proceeded on November 15 and 16, 2025.
“This judgment affirms and gives final effect to those earlier orders. The party welcomes this judgment as a vindication of both fact and law. It reaffirms the obvious fact that the Ibadan convention was conducted properly, transparently, and in full compliance with the party’s constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It continued, “We commend the honorable court for its courage and fidelity to justice.
We reaffirm our faith in the Nigerian judiciary as an independent arbiter and the last hope of the ordinary citizen.
“The party remains committed to pursuing all legitimate legal avenues to ensure that justice is fully served, and we are confident that the appellate courts will, in like manner, uphold the law without fear or favor, affection, or ill will.”
On January 30, a Federal High Court in Ibadan invalidated the PDP National Convention, which took place on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and ordered Turaki (SAN) and others to stop presenting themselves as party national officers.
Prior to the ruling, PDP governors supported the Ibadan Convention, which elected Turaki and members of the National Working Committee to four-year terms and oversaw the transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s term expired on December 9.
However, on December 8, a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike organized a 13-member caretaker committee, appointing Mohammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman, Samuel Anyanwu as acting secretary, and others for a 60-day period.
Both the Wike-aligned side and the governors’ camp attempted to meet in Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, but the meeting devolved into pandemonium and physical fights, prompting the police to seal the PDP National Secretariat and keep it closed.
Both factions then contacted INEC for recognition, but the commission declined to admit either side, resulting in lengthy legal disputes ahead of the 2027 general election.
During the controversy, the Wike-backed caretaker committee declared on February 3 that a new National Convention to elect new PDP leaders will be held in Abuja from March 29 to 30.
On February 12, the Court of Appeal heard all combined cases involving the PDP leadership crisis and reserved decision, setting a date for the ruling to be communicated to the parties.
