The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in a high-stakes appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the nullification of its 2025 Ibadan convention by the lower courts.
The appeal, brought by a faction of the party, contests the earlier rulings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which invalidated the outcome of the November 2025 convention. The case also involves prominent PDP figure Sule Lamido and other stakeholders in the party’s leadership dispute.
At the hearing, counsel to the appellants, Chris Uche (SAN), argued that both lower courts erred in law by entertaining the matter, insisting that the dispute falls strictly within the internal affairs of the party and is therefore outside judicial jurisdiction. He urged the apex court to overturn the judgments and make a declaratory order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise officials produced at the Ibadan convention.
“The prayer before the court is for the judgment to be upturned on the ground of jurisdiction as both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal erred when they presided over the case knowing that it was a party’s internal affairs,” Uche submitted.
However, counsel to the respondents, Joseph Daudu (SAN), opposed the appeal, maintaining that the matter goes beyond internal party issues and touches on the statutory responsibilities of INEC. He argued that the electoral body’s role in recognising party officials gives the courts jurisdiction to adjudicate on the dispute. Daudu urged the court to dismiss the appeal, describing the appellants’ arguments as misplaced.
Both parties adopted their briefs in the main and cross-appeals before the panel of justices, which was led by Mohammed Lawal Garba.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Garba announced that judgment had been reserved, stating that a date for delivery would be communicated to counsel in due course.
