• We remain in charge of party, Turaki faction boasts
• It’s victory for democracy – Wike-Anyanwu wing
The nullification of the November 2025 Ibadan national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan yesterday seems to have set the stage for a fresh round of acrimony in the party.
Not only did Justice Uche Agomoh nullify the convention,he also barred Taminu Turaki (SAN) and others who emerged as National Working Committee (NWC) members at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP.
The court similarly declared the Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the only recognised NWC of the PDP pending the conduct of a valid National Convention.
Turaki and his faction of the party immediately rejected the verdict and said they were proceeding on appeal
Turaki claimed that the court turned itself into a charitable organisation by granting relief not sought by the other faction.
But the Abdulrahman Mohammed faction hailed the judgement as victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the long-standing position that legitimacy can only be derived from strict compliance with the constitution of the party, extant laws, and valid court orders as against seeking self-help through impersonation or unlawful assertions of authority.
The Turaki faction had filed suit Number FHC/IB/CS/121/2025,to seek recognition of the convention held in Ibadan on November 15, 2025, and validation of the NWC that emerged at the convention
However, Justice Agomoh, held that the convention was conducted in flagrant disobedience of two judgments of the same court, adding that returning to seek judicial approval for actions taken in defiance of court orders was an exercise in futility.
He described the suit as a brazen attempt by the applicants to legitimize illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders.
He declared that he would not allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments.
Consequently, he set aside all decisions taken at the convention.
He said:”I hold that the caretaker committee is the only lawful governing body of PDP that INEC should recognize and relate with.
“This suit is a brazen attempt of the applicant to legitimize its illegalities done in violation of subsisting court orders. I cannot allow that or sit on appeal over those judgments.
“The application fails and is dismissed.”
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP Caretaker Committee, Chief Ferdinand Oshioke Orbih, (SAN) called it a boost for Nigeria’s democracy.
He said the judgment affirmed that the rule of law must prevail over political expediency, stressing that all actions and structures arising from the convention had been completely nullified.
Orbih added that the court’s decision underscored the inevitability of the caretaker committee taking charge of the party’s affairs until a valid convention is conducted in line with the law.
Turaki faction: No cause for alarm; we remain in charge of PDP
National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki faction, Comrade Ini Ememobong insisted that they remain the only legal leadership of the party despite the judgement.
He said the faction had briefed its lawyers on the development and would await the decision of the appellate court.
It asked its supporters to remain resolute in the efforts to rebuild the PDP.
His words: “We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered this morning, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought on the ground that doing so would, in the court’s view, amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“We have accordingly briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter.
“Notwithstanding this judgment, the Kabiru Turaki–led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan Convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.
“We therefore urge our members to remain resolute and committed as there is absolutely no cause for alarm. The REBIRTH movement remains firmly on course.”
Courts are not charitable institutions, should not grant reliefs not sought by litigants, says Turaki
Turaki said separately yesterday that the Federal High Court that adjudicated on the case turned itself into a charitable organisation by granting relief not sought in by the other faction.
He told reporters in Abuja that courts are not charitable organisations and are not supposed to grant reliefs not sought and when such reliefs are sought, must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
He said :”For clarity, we approached the court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the National Convention and to facilitate official party communications with the Commission.
“In the course of the proceedings, some former members of our party, who had either been expelled or had resigned, applied to be joined in the matter and were so joined by order of the court. They filed processes urging the court not to grant our prayers.
“However, it is important to note, respectfully, that the court went beyond the reliefs sought and granted orders that were neither prayed for nor canvassed by any of the parties before it.
“More importantly, the judgment is materially inconsistent with existing orders and previous judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, all of which are already subjects of appeal before the Court of Appeal.
“Consequently, we have filed a notice of appeal as well as a motion for stay of execution of the judgment, and we are determined to pursue this matter diligently and logically, in accordance with the law.
“For the benefit of members of the press, this is our notice of appeal. And this is our application for stay of execution of the same judgment delivered this morning (displaying the documents). As you can see, we have already appealed and applied for a stay.
“Until that application is heard and determined one way or the other, the judgment is in abeyance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this judgment is only one among several decisions of the Federal High Court on this same subject matter. The core issues arising from them are already before the Court of Appeal. In that sense, this particular judgment is, technically speaking, academic, pending the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate court.
“Let me assure all members of our great party that, notwithstanding this judgment, the National Working Committee produced by the Convention remains legally intact, firmly in place, and fully committed to the ongoing rebirth of the People’s Democratic Party.
“I therefore urge all our members and supporters across the country to remain calm and resolute. There is absolutely no cause for alarm. The rebirth movement is steadily on course.
“This judgment represents nothing more than the navigation of one judicial bend along our journey. The destination remains clear, and as history has consistently shown, it is the final outcome that ultimately matters.”
Responding to questions on pending appeals, Turaki said “there are actually more than two matters pending. There is the judgment of Justice Omotosho, another judgment, and a further judgment delivered by Justice Abdulmalik. In all these cases, the party was sued and we are defending those actions. We appealed against the orders made against the party in those cases.
“However, in the matter decided this morning in Ibadan, we were the ones who approached the court seeking an order of mandamus, as I have explained. Some parties applied to be joined and were joined, but there was no counterclaim and no other prayers before the court. Yet the court went beyond the issues placed before it and granted reliefs that were not claimed.
“It is a fundamental principle of law that courts are not charitable institutions. They do not grant reliefs not sought by litigants. Even when a relief is sought, it must be proved before it can be granted. We have therefore appealed.
“I am concerned that the appeals have not yet been heard? No, I am not concerned as a lawyer. There are established processes that must be completed before an appeal is ripe for hearing. Parties must file their briefs within stipulated timelines, and replies may also be necessary.”
Ibadan FHC judgement in abeyance pending appeal court decision, says PDP BoT
The Board of Trustees of the Tanimu Turaki led PDP said it was shocking that a court that refused to grant an order of mandamus went beyond its boundaries to issue orders that were not prayed for by parties in the case.
Chairman of the BoT and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara said in a statement last night that the judgement of the court was in abeyance pending the determination of the appeal filed by the party.
The statement reads: “The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been made aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, regarding the National Convention of our great Party held on November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
“The BoT notes that the judgment is technically of no effect and at best, academic as the central and fundamental issues in the matter are already before the Court of Appeal.
“It is however a matter of concern that the court, in declining the order of mandamus sought by our party on the ground that such would amount to sitting on appeal over the judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, went beyond the boundaries to grant reliefs that were not prayed by any of the parties in the case.
“In any case, the BoT notes that our party has already filed an appeal and a Motion for Stay of Execution. This puts the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan in abeyance and retains the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee which was duly elected at the Ibadan Convention legally and firmly on the saddle.
“The BoT as the conscience and second highest Organ of the party assures all members of the PDP, our teeming supporters and indeed the general public that the Turaki-led NWC is securely in place and there is no cause for alarm.
“The Board reaffirms its commitment and support for the Turaki-led NWC in its efforts to stabilize and strengthen the party on the path of victory ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
It’s victory for democracy, says Abdulrahman faction
In its own reaction,the Abdulrahman Mohammed faction commended the judiciary for “once again rising to its constitutional responsibility as the impartial arbiter in political and constitutional disputes.”
Its spokesman, Jungude Haruna Mohammed said the judgement “represents a decisive victory for the rule of law, constitutionalism, and internal party democracy.”
It added: “It reaffirms the long-standing position of the PDP that legitimacy can only be derived from strict compliance with the Constitution of the Party, Extant Laws, and Valid Court Orders as against seeking for Self-Help through impersonation, or unlawful assertions of authority.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee therefore congratulates all its members and supporters for their patience, resilience, and unwavering faith in due process throughout this period, and further call on all members to remain calm, law-abiding, and united as we move forward in the spirit of reconciliation, progress, and renewed commitment to the ideals of our great Party.
“We appeal to all aggrieved members to sheath their swords as this victory belongs to the entire PDP family. Our doors remain open for genuine reconciliation and integration. This will strengthen unity, deepen internal cohesion, and refocus collective efforts toward building a stronger and more formidable PDP.”
Imo PDP, too
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Imo State chapter of the party.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state , Lancelot Obiaku, said the brains behind the now nullified Ibadan convention “ desecrated the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the country’s constitution.”
He said:”We are upbeat that the judgment will stabilize and strengthen our party, boost confidence, and pave the way for PDP to thrive as Nigeria’s leading opposition party.”
It reaffirmed its confidence in the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led committee and its leaders, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
