The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
TheHintsNews reports that the Federal High Court had on October 31, 2025 restrained INEC from recognising the National Convention conducted between November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Three aggrieved members of the party who instituted the case are Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 was instituted on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Joseph Daudu.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of PDP, scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
The nine defendants are Independent INEC, PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party, Umar Baturrle, National Organizing Secretary of the party, NWC and NEC of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi
Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam while delivering the judgment in an appeal against the Federal High Court decision held that PDP violated Constitutional provisions required before such convention could become valid.
The judge added that no valid convention notice was served on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as required by law.
The judge held that valid congresses were not held in more than 14 states as provided by law before 2025 convention was put in place.
He noted that the case of the aggrieved PDP members who instituted the case against the party was not an internal affairs of the party as erroneously held but the desire to force INEC to comply with its statutory functions in relation to party conventions.
The Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court was right in assuming jurisdiction and granting restraining order against INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of the PDP 2025 national convention having failed to comply with the relevant laws.
“Non compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022 and party Constitution and Guidelines are at the hearts of democratic governance and compliance must be strictly enforced in the interest of democracy,” the Judge said.