Supreme Court Voids PDP Ibadan Convention Over Disobedience to Court Orders

The Supreme Court has nullified the Ibadan convention organised by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki, citing disobedience to subsisting court orders.

In a split decision of three to two, the apex court, in a lead judgment delivered by Stephen Adah, strongly condemned the conduct of the Turaki-led group for proceeding with the convention despite clear judicial directives.

The ruling followed an appeal challenging an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, which held that former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, was unlawfully excluded from contesting the party’s chairmanship position.

The five-member panel expressed dissatisfaction with the faction for ignoring orders of the trial court, including a directive to suspend the planned Ibadan convention until nomination forms were made available to all interested aspirants.

According to the court, the convention held in November proceeded in defiance of a valid court order, an action it described as “condemnable.”

Justices Mohammed Garba and Chidioma Nwosu-Iheme concurred with the majority judgment, while Haruna Tsammani and Abubakar Sadiq Umar dissented.