Court of Appeal Upholds Suspension of PDP National Convention in Ibadan

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the judicial restraint placed on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its National Convention previously scheduled for Ibadan.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, March 9, 2026, the appellate court dismissed the application filed by the party seeking to vacate an earlier interim injunction granted by a lower court.

The decision effectively stalls the party's internal leadership transition and intensifies the legal deadlock between competing factions vying for control of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The legal dispute stems from a suit filed by aggrieved stakeholders who alleged significant irregularities in the delegate selection process and a lack of compliance with the party's constitution.

The lower court had initially barred the PDP from proceeding with the Ibadan convention to prevent "irreparable damage" to the interests of the plaintiffs pending the determination of the substantive suit.

By upholding this ban, the Court of Appeal maintained that the status quo must be preserved to ensure that internal party democracy is not compromised by procedural breaches.

The presiding justice emphasized the necessity of judicial oversight in intra-party affairs when constitutional provisions are in question.

The court noted: "The appellant has failed to provide sufficient grounds to warrant the setting aside of the protective orders issued by the lower court. It is imperative that political parties adhere strictly to their own regulations to avoid disenfranchising members and creating institutional instability."

The ruling further underscored that "the sanctity of the judicial process must be respected, and any attempt to overreach the court’s decision will not be countenanced."