An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has upheld the validity of the November 2025 elective national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, affirming the emergence of Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the party’s substantive national chairman.
Justice Ladiran Akintola delivered the judgment on Friday in Suit No. I/1336/2025, granting all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, through his counsel, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN).
The court held that the convention complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, and the party’s constitution.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola resolved key issues for determination, including whether the defendants were entitled to disrupt or truncate the elective national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The court answered in the negative, relying on Articles 33(7) and 47(1) and (2) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017, alongside Section 223(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge further held that all statutory requirements for the conduct of the convention were met, including the issuance of notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission on August 29, 2025.
He ruled that the validity of the exercise was not dependent on whether INEC physically monitored it.
By virtue of Section 40 of the Constitution, the court said the defendants were under an obligation to respect the claimant’s right to peaceful assembly and association, noting that any attempt to prevent the convention would amount to a violation of that right.
In a consequential order, Justice Akintola declared that the convention held pursuant to the court’s interim orders of November 3 and November 14, 2025, was legal and binding.
He added that since INEC was a party when the orders were made, the commission is bound to give effect to the outcome of the convention, pending any contrary decision by a higher court.
The court accordingly directed INEC to continue to recognise and act on the outcome of the convention.
Justice Akintola also dismissed a Motion on Notice filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others, which sought a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling.
The judge described the applications as lacking merit, noting that an earlier application for joinder by the same parties had been refused on similar grounds.
Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the claimant, Adetunmbi (SAN), said the court left no ambiguity about the legality of the convention.
“The court said it loud and clear that the convention held on the 15th and 16th was legally held, valid and proper. Since it was pursuant to an order of court, and INEC was present when that order was made, all authorities are bound to give effect to that convention, including INEC,” he said.
He added that the court affirmed the claimant’s right to belong to the PDP and to participate in its internal democratic processes, stressing that the convention remains valid unless overturned by an appellate court.
Also reacting, an Oyo State PDP chieftain, Dapo Durosaro, said the judgment had finally validated the exercise.
“The convention of November 15 and 16 was held pursuant to the interim order of this court. This final judgment validates that convention. Evidence was placed before the court to show that all requirements under the Electoral Act were complied with and duly served on INEC,” Durosaro said.
However, the faction of the PDP aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected the ruling, describing it as inconsequential.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP caretaker committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu insisted that the November 2025 convention remains invalid.
The faction argued that earlier judgments of the Federal High Court had barred INEC from attending or monitoring the convention, rendering the Oyo State High Court’s decision of no binding effect on the commission.