[UPDATED] Convention: Turaki-Led PDP Meets, Backs Decision To Challenge Appeal Court Judgment

The Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has upheld the decision of the party to challenge the appeal court judgment that invalidated the Ibadan convention at the Supreme Court.

The decision was taken after an emergency NEC meeting of the PDP, led by Turaki and the Adolphus Wabara board of trustees.

The meeting was held at the Bauchi governor’s lodge in Abuja.

The meeting was the third this week, and matters concerning party, especially in relation to the plan national convention of the Abdulrahman Mohamed-led caretaker committee, had been at the centre of discussions.

When a similar meeting held on Wednesday, the Turaki-led group said they were open to reconciliation, just as he confirmed that talks were showing positive signs of getting a truce

The Abdulrahman Mohamed-led caretaker committee of the PDP, which is also backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had insisted that they were open to reconciliation, and listed some conditions, which includes the that the planned convention for 29 and 30th march must hold

Turaki, Wabara, former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, and a former minister, Jerry Gana, were among those who presided at the emergency NEC meeting.

Turaki, in his opening remarks, told the gathering that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State sent in an apology for his unavailability.

He established also, that members would be briefed during a closed-door meeting about update on the reconciliation efforts.

Turaki says all hope is not lost, and that the leadership was working seriously to ensure that the PDP is on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.

Appeal Court’s Judgment

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on March 9, 2026, affirmed the November 14 judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, restraining the PDP from proceeding with its November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan without giving former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, the opportunity to participate as a chairmanship candidate.

In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel held that the PDP’s convention, held in defiance of a valid subsisting Federal High Court order, was contemptuous and showed disrespect to the court.

The court noted that it was undisputed that the PDP conducted the convention despite an existing order directing it to allow Lamido’s participation.

It rejected the party’s argument that it acted in compliance with a judgment from another court of coordinate jurisdiction, emphasising that “it is not for any party in a case to decide which order to obey or ignore.”

The court stated that the PDP should have either applied for a stay of execution of the judgment or filed an appeal against it before proceeding.

Condemning the party’s contemptuous conduct, the appellate court held that the trial court acted correctly in assuming jurisdiction over Lamido’s case and granting the reliefs he sought.

The court dismissed the PDP’s appeal for lacking merit and awarded ₦2 million in costs against the party.

Meanwhile, the Mohammed-led caretaker committee of PDP has scheduled its national convention for Sunday March 29 and Monday March 30, 2026.