The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effectively upholding earlier rulings against the faction’s leadership claims.
In a majority judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Stephen ruled that the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16 last year, was conducted in violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court.
The lower court judgment, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, had restrained the party from proceeding with the convention under the disputed circumstances.
Justice Stephen held that actions taken in defiance of a valid court order cannot be legitimised by subsequent legal arguments, stressing that adherence to judicial pronouncements remains a cornerstone of the rule of law.
The apex court consequently dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
The ruling represents a significant setback for the Turaki-led faction, which had sought to overturn earlier decisions and validate the outcome of the controversial convention.
ThisNigeria reports that the PDP has been embroiled in a protracted leadership crisis, with multiple factions laying claim to the party’s National Working Committee.
The dispute intensified ahead of the November convention in Ibadan, as disagreements over internal processes, zoning arrangements, and leadership legitimacy deepened.
Despite the restraining order issued by Justice Omotosho, the Turaki-led group proceeded with the convention, producing a parallel leadership structure that was immediately challenged in court by opposing party stakeholders.
Subsequent rulings by lower courts invalidated the exercise, prompting the faction to approach the Supreme Court in a bid to secure legal recognition.
