The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging a ruling that nullified its 2025 Ibadan convention.
Judicial correspondent Austin Anyebe reports that the appeal stems from a dispute within the party, with the Turaki-led PDP faction contesting the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier voided the convention held in November 2025.
Counsel to the appellants, Chris Uche, urged the apex court to overturn the lower courts’ decisions on grounds of jurisdiction.
He argued that both the Federal High Court of Nigeria and the Court of Appeal erred by adjudicating what he described as the internal affairs of a political party.
He further prayed to the court to make a declaratory order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize officials elected during the Ibadan convention.
However, counsel to the respondents, Joseph Daudu, opposed the appeal. He contended that the matter goes beyond internal party affairs, emphasizing that it involves the statutory responsibilities of INEC in regulating and legitimizing party activities. He therefore urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
Both parties adopted their written briefs in the main and cross-appeals.
The panel of justices, led by Mohammed Lawal Garba, subsequently announced that a date for judgment would be communicated to counsel.
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