The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday reserved judgment in nine appeals arising from the crisis over the November 15 and 16, 2025 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convention had produced Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as National Chairman of the party alongside other national officers.
A three-member panel of the appellate court fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to the parties after counsel adopted their respective written briefs.
One of the appeals, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1613/2025, lists the PDP, its National Working Committee and National Executive Committee as appellants, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, Turnah George, Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi are respondents.
Arguing the appeal, counsel for the appellants, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), adopted his clients’ brief filed on November 20, 2025, challenging the October 31 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He contended that the lower court lacked jurisdiction and urged the appellate court to set aside the decision and dismiss what he termed misconceived preliminary objections.
The appeals stem from earlier orders of the Federal High Court halting the convention. On November 11, 2025, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the PDP from proceeding with the exercise and barred INEC from supervising or recognising its outcome.
The order followed a suit instituted by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who alleged that he was denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form for the party’s national chairmanship position.
Justice Lifu had held that the PDP failed to comply with statutory requirements, including the publication of a timetable, and ruled that the balance of convenience favoured the plaintiff.
The appellate court also heard and adopted processes in the appeal challenging the ruling of Justice Abdulmalik before reserving judgment.