Supreme Court Favours Wike Camp, Throws Out Turaki Faction’s Appeal Over Controversial PDP Convention

Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a decisive blow to the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki, dismissing its appeal and effectively affirming the dominance of the camp aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

In a judgment that may reshape the internal power dynamics of the opposition party, the apex court upheld earlier rulings that voided the PDP’s controversial national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.

The Turaki-led group had approached the court seeking to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed two Federal High Court judgments that first halted the convention and later nullified its outcomes.

But the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal, ruling that it lacked merit and endorsing the position that the convention was conducted in breach of laid-down legal and constitutional provisions.

The development is widely seen as a major victory for the Wike-backed bloc, consolidating its grip on the party amid a protracted leadership crisis.

At the heart of the dispute is whether the PDP complied with its own constitution and Nigeria’s electoral guidelines in organising the Ibadan convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

The Turaki faction had argued that the matter was purely an internal party affair and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.

It insisted that due process was followed in convening the gathering and electing party officials.

However, opposing voices within the party, backed by judicial findings, maintained that the PDP violated critical procedures, including the failure to conduct valid state congresses before proceeding to the national convention.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in an earlier ruling, declared the convention invalid, citing breaches of the 1999 Constitution, guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the PDP’s own constitution.

That judgment followed a suit filed by aggrieved party stakeholders, including Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.

The Court of Appeal had earlier reinforced the High Court’s stance, ruling that the judiciary was right to intervene due to the alleged violations.

It also barred INEC from recognising any officers or decisions emanating from the disputed convention.

In its final verdict, the Supreme Court aligned with the lower courts, dismissing claims that the issue was non-justiciable.