Supreme Court Voids PDP’s Ibadan Convention, Slams Defiance of Court Orders

The Supreme Court has again nullified the Ibadan convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in November, describing the exercise as a blatant disregard for judicial authority.

In a strongly worded lead judgment, Justice Chidiebere Nwosu-Iheme condemned the decision of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction to proceed with the convention despite subsisting court orders halting it.

Delivering judgment in an appeal filed by the Turaki camp against Austin Nwachukwu and others, Justice Nwosu-Iheme described the action as “pure madness,” stressing that disobedience to any court order amounts to disobedience to the entire judiciary.

The apex court, in a split decision of three to two, also criticised political parties for what it termed a consistent pattern of undermining the rule of law.

It noted that parties often make a “mockery and caricature” of valid court judgments, while also faulting some judges for allowing their courts to be used for forum shopping.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme warned that if such “irresponsibility” persists, the situation could spiral into what she described as “doomsday dimensions,” adding that the judiciary would not stand by and allow a breakdown of legal order.

The majority judgment was supported by Justices Mohammed Garba and Stephen Adah.

However, Justices Haruna Tsammani and Abubakar Sadiq Umar dissented from the ruling.