PDP Dispute: Appeal Court Rules In Favour Of Wike’s Faction, Nullifies Ibadan Convention

By Ayodele Oni 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court which stopped the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) November 15 and 16 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State that produced Tanimu Turaki, as the National Chairman of the party.

The Federal High Court judgement was delivered by justice James Omotosho.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, chaired by Mohammed Danjuma agreed with the lower court that there was no proper conduct of congresses before the convention.

It also dismissed the argument of Turaki faction that the issues bordered on internal affairs of the party.

The PDP has been embroiled in a  leadership dispute since late 2025, with rival factions contesting the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention. 

Despite existing court orders restraining the gathering, Turaki’s faction went ahead with the event, electing him and other party officers.

In January 2026, a Federal High Court in Ibadan declared the convention null and void, citing violations of court orders and party regulations, and barred Turaki’s group from acting as the party’s national leadership. 

The conflict deepened in February when an Oyo State High Court issued a separate judgment recognizing Turaki as chairman, a decision rejected by the faction aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Earlier in the judgment, the panel dismissed the argument of the PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki that the Federal High Court judge, Justice James Omotosho lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit against the Ibadan Convention on that grounds that the issues bordered on internal affairs of the party.

The preliminary objections raised by the respondents, faction loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike that Chris Uche is not a proper legal counsel to represent PDP has been dismissed by the court on the grounds that the former PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade was suspended by the party’s National Working Committee NWC.

Monday’s appellate ruling in Abuja decisively sided against Turaki’s faction, affirming Abdulrahman Muhammed-led National Caretaker Working Committee as the legitimate leadership of the party and declaring the appeal “lacking in merit.” 

Allies of Wike have welcomed the decision, seeing it as a reinforcement of their position.