The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the decision of the Federal High Court of Nigeria which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the 2025 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, the appellate court ruled that the party failed to comply with key constitutional and electoral requirements before conducting the convention.
The court held that the PDP did not serve a valid notice of the convention on INEC as required by law and also failed to conduct valid congresses in more than 14 states prior to the gathering, rendering the process defective.
Justice Onyemenam further clarified that the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party was not an internal party matter but a legitimate effort to compel INEC to perform its statutory responsibilities in monitoring party activities.
The appellate court therefore affirmed that the lower court acted within the law when it assumed jurisdiction and restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the convention.
Justice James Omotosho had earlier ruled on October 31, 2025 that the PDP violated the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and its own party guidelines, particularly by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice required for INEC to monitor party congresses and meetings.
The case was instituted by PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah Alabh George, who challenged the legitimacy of the convention where new national officers were expected to emerge.
With the appellate court’s ruling, the earlier order restraining INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention remains in force until the party complies with the relevant legal provisions.
Appeal Court Affirms Judgment Nullifying PDP Ibadan Convention
