Tension Rises As Supreme Court Schedules PDP Leadership Appeal Hearing

The appeals stem from the controversy surrounding the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which was earlier nullified by the Court of Appeal.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, granted the Turaki faction’s request for an accelerated hearing. The court also shortened the timeline for filing legal briefs to ensure a swift resolution of the matter.

During the proceedings, the court ordered that hearing notices be served on one of the respondents, Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was absent and unrepresented.

Counsel to the Turaki group, Chris Uche, urged the court to treat the case with urgency, noting that it needed to be resolved in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also submitted documents supporting the request for a speedy hearing.

On the other hand, Emmanuel Ukala, representing some of the respondents, requested additional time to respond, citing the need to obtain records from the appellate court’s judgment that nullified the Ibadan convention. However, the Supreme Court directed all respondents to file their responses within five days.

In a related appeal involving the Turaki faction and Sule Lamido, the court also approved an accelerated hearing and fixed the same date, April 22.

The dispute with Lamido arose after he was excluded from contesting the party’s national chairmanship, leading him to secure a Federal High Court order halting the convention.

Earlier decisions by lower courts had ruled against the Turaki-led faction, nullifying the Ibadan convention, restraining the electoral commission from recognising its outcome, and in some instances limiting access to the party’s national secretariat.

The Turaki group is now seeking to overturn those rulings at the Supreme Court, arguing that the matter is an internal party affair and that due process was followed in conducting the convention.