Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, in Ibadan, on Friday has delivered a judgment affirming the validity of the 2025 Elective National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman and the selection of members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
In suit No. I/1336/2025, the court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, through his counsel, Musibau Adetunmbi, SAN, holding that the November 15 and 16, 2025 convention in Ibadan complied fully with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).
In a detailed ruling, the court resolved key issues, including whether any party had the legal right to truncate or frustrate the scheduled convention and whether statutory notice was duly issued to INEC.
Justice Akintola held that, pursuant to Sections 223(1)(a) and 223(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 82 of the Electoral Act, the party fulfilled all mandatory requirements, having served INEC notice on August 29, 2025. The judge declared that INEC’s monitoring of the convention was not a condition precedent to its validity and that the exercise, conducted pursuant to earlier court orders of November 3 and renewed on November 14, 2025, was lawful and binding on all authorities, including INEC, pending any contrary decision by a higher court.
The court further dismissed applications for joinder and for stay of proceedings filed by opposing parties, describing them as lacking merit. It ruled that failure to hold the convention as scheduled would have infringed on the claimant’s constitutional right to freedom of association under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge found no breach of due process and directed INEC to continue to give effect to the outcome of the convention.
Speaking after the judgment, Adetunmbi, SAN, said the court ,
“said it loud and clear that the convention held on the 15th and 16th was legally held, valid and proper,”
stressing that since INEC was served and was a party when the interim orders were made,
“all authorities are bound to give effect to that convention.” He maintained that the convention “remains valid except there is a contrary pronouncement from the appellate court,” adding that “your duty is to give INEC proper notice; it is not compulsory that INEC must be there.”
Also reacting, the Oyo State PDP Legal Adviser, Dapo Durosaro, described the ruling as a final judicial seal on the exercise.
“The Court observed that the PDP showed evidence that all requirements were met and duly served on INEC, and that state congresses were held with reports submitted,” he said.
According to him, the judgment affirms that there is no vacancy in the party’s national leadership and that the convention of November 15 and 16 was validly conducted in line with the law.
, which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman and the selection of members of the National Working Committee (NWC).){kind=link}