The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed its decision to challenge the Court of Appeal ruling that invalidated the party’s Ibadan convention, vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The resolution emerged from an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, presided over by Turaki alongside the Adolphus Wabara Board of Trustees, held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
This marked the third high-level meeting of the week, focused on party unity and the upcoming national convention of the Abdulrahman Mohamed-led caretaker committee.
During a similar session on Wednesday, Turaki reiterated openness to reconciliation and noted encouraging signs that a truce could be reached with the caretaker committee, which is backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The caretaker committee has stressed that its planned convention for March 29–30, 2026, must proceed as scheduled.
Among the leaders present at Friday’s emergency NEC meeting were Turaki, Wabara, former governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger State) and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano State), and former minister Jerry Gana.
Turaki informed attendees that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had sent apologies for his absence and indicated that further updates on reconciliation efforts would be provided during a closed-door briefing.
“All hope is not lost,” Turaki told the gathering, stressing that the NWC remains committed to ensuring that the PDP is fully prepared and on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
Appeal Court Judgment Background
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on March 9, 2026, upheld a November 14, 2025 judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which restrained the PDP from proceeding with its November 15–16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan without allowing former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to contest for the party chairmanship.
In a unanimous ruling, a three-member panel described the convention, held in defiance of a valid court order, as contemptuous and disrespectful to the judiciary.
The court noted that the PDP conducted the convention despite the existing order and rejected the party’s claim that it acted in compliance with a separate court judgment.
The appellate court emphasized that no party has the discretion to decide which court order to obey, and stated that the PDP should have sought a stay of execution or filed an appeal before proceeding. It dismissed the PDP’s appeal for lacking merit and awarded ₦2 million in costs against the party, upholding the trial court’s authority to grant Lamido’s requested reliefs.
Meanwhile, the Mohammed-led caretaker committee has scheduled its national convention for Sunday, March 29, and Monday, March 30, 2026, signaling that party activities will continue despite ongoing legal disputes.
