The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) on Friday welcomed the judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which validated the November 15, 2026, National Convention of the party held in Ibadan.
This came as the Mohammed Abdulrahman-led faction described the judgment as an “academic exercise” not binding on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Turaki-led NWC, while reacting to the judgment, welcomed it as “a vindication of both fact and law.”
The National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated, “The Peoples Democratic Party has been informed of the judgment of the High Court of Oyo State, sitting in Ibadan, delivered by the Honourable Justice Ladiran Akintola.
“The court granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, declaring the National Convention held in Ibadan as properly conducted and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and give full effect to all decisions and outcomes reached at the said convention, the same having been found to be proper and lawful.
“The suit was filed by Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, on behalf of his client, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, a card-carrying member of the party, to protect his constitutional right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. The suit sought, among other reliefs, an order compelling the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct its elections as publicly advertised, and a further order directing INEC to honour the outcomes of the convention.
“The Honourable Court had earlier granted an order to that effect on November 3, 2025, and renewed the same on November 14, 2025- the legal basis upon which the convention proceeded on November 15 and 16, 2025. This judgment affirms and gives final effect to those earlier orders.
“The party welcomes this judgment as a vindication of both fact and law. It reaffirms the obvious fact that the Ibadan convention was conducted properly, transparently, and in full compliance with the party’s constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We commend the Honourable Court for its courage and fidelity to justice. We reaffirm our faith in the Nigerian judiciary as an independent arbiter and the last hope of the ordinary citizen.
“The party remains committed to pursuing all legitimate legal avenues to ensure that justice is fully served, and we are confident that the appellate courts will, in like manner, uphold the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”
The CP-PDP, on its part, described the judgment, delivered by Justice Ladiran Akintola, as “a triumph of justice, the rule of law, and the will of PDP members.”
The National Coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, noted, “The court affirmed the party’s 2025 National Convention, which produced the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).
“It is imperative to draw the attention of Nigerians and all political stakeholders to the declaratory order of the judgment. The court ruled that the November 15th and 16th, 2025, National Convention of the PDP was legal and valid. Consequently, the outcome is binding and must be given effect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other authorities or persons duty-bound to relate with the PDP.
“The CP-PDP asserts that these authorities, as pronounced by the court, include the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), other security agencies, the media, election observers, and other democratic institutions in the country.
The group called on INEC to comply with the “express and unambiguous pronouncement of the court.”
It added, “INEC should immediately give effect to the outcome of the 2025 National Convention by recognising the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee as the legitimately elected leadership of the party.
“Furthermore, INEC should henceforth accord all recognition and limit official correspondence to the Turaki-led NWC on all matters regarding the PDP. This is based on the fact that the judgment of the Oyo State High Court is the latest ruling by a court of concurrent jurisdiction on the matter.”
It also called on the police to unseal the National Secretariats of the PDP in Abuja to allow “the Turaki-led NWC access to the complex to perform its legitimate duty of running the affairs of the party, while also ensuring the NWC is provided with adequate security guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.”
However, the Abdulrahman-led camp dismissed the judgment as amounting to no effect since it would not be binding on INEC.
The National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said, “It is important to state clearly that the court that delivered today’s judgement was the same court that earlier granted an interim order to Mr. (Umar) Damagum and his co-travellers the permission to proceed with their ‘Amala Convention’ held on 15th and 16th November 2025 against two valid Federal High Court Judgements. So, this is not news.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said judgment does not bind Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as INEC was neither joined nor represented as a party in the suit.
“To say the least, INEC challenged the jurisdiction of the Oyo State High Court, which the court later agreed in a ruling delivered by the judge and subsequently struck out the name of INEC.”
The camp further argued that “a judgment that does not bind INEC is of no consequence whatsoever as far as the issues at stake are concerned.
“The judgment has no legal effect whatsoever on the conduct, monitoring, or recognition of any party convention purported to have been held on the 15th and 16th of November 2026
