Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has praised the decision of the Court of Appeal which voided the national convention organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The appellate court, in a judgment delivered on Monday, affirmed an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court that had barred the opposition party from holding the convention.
A three-member panel of the court dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP which had challenged the authority of the Abuja Federal High Court to hear the matter.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam ruled that the party breached provisions of its constitution regulating the conduct of a national convention. The court also found that the party failed to issue a valid notice of the event to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required under the law.
The panel further noted that the PDP did not conduct congresses in more than 14 states ahead of the convention, a requirement stipulated by law.
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According to Onyemenam, the issues raised by the plaintiffs could not be treated as the party’s internal affairs. He therefore held that the Federal High Court was right to assume jurisdiction and to restrain the electoral commission from recognising or accepting the outcome of the convention.
Reacting to the verdict shortly after the judgment, Wike described the ruling as an opportunity for reconciliation and rebuilding within the party.
“Today is one of my happiest days because a party that claims to uphold democratic principles cannot tolerate impunity. Due process must be followed and the rule of law must prevail,” he said.
The FCT minister added that the judgment should serve as a turning point for the opposition party.
“For me, it is a chance for members to reunite. We have fought enough. It is time to set aside personal interests and focus on moving the party forward,” he said.
“The PDP remains the only strong opposition party we have. Our priority now should be to put our house in order so the party can continue to play its role effectively.”
In November 2025, the PDP, with the backing of Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, held the national convention in Ibadan where Kabiru Turaki emerged as national chairman.
The exercise followed a string of conflicting court rulings. While some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the convention over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral regulations, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan allowed the event to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the process.
Party members aligned with Wike, who had opposed the convention, subsequently announced the formation of a parallel national working committee (NWC), board of trustees (BoT) and national executive committee (NEC).
