Why The Turaki-Led Interim NWC Must Appeal This Travesty of Justice

By Adakole Ijogi

Today July 17, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment that will be remembered as one of the most legally indefensible decisions in Nigeria’s democratic history. Justice Salim Ibrahim, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, struck out our case seeking INEC’s recognition of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

This judgment is not merely a setback it is a travesty of justice that must be appealed without delay. Let me enumerate the facts and evidence that compel this appeal.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY SPOKEN AND IT SPOKE AGAINST THE ABDULRAHMAN GROUP

On April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of 3-2, nullified the Ibadan convention of November 15-16, 2025, which had produced the Turaki-led executive. Crucially, the apex court upheld the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) the very individuals now parading themselves as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and National Legal Adviser of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction.

Justice Stephen Adah, delivering the lead judgment, held that the Ibadan convention organisers acted in “clear violation of subsisting orders of the Federal High Court” and that such disobedience constituted “a grave affront to the rule of law and democratic governance”.

Let that sink in: The Supreme Court declared that individuals who violate court orders cannot benefit from their lawlessness.

Yet, the same Federal High Court that Justice Omotosho used to restrain the November 2025 convention has now turned around to validate a March 2026 convention convened by the very individuals the Supreme Court suspended.

THE MARCH 2026 CONVENTION WAS CONVENED BY SUSPENDED OFFICIALS. IT IS A NULLITY

The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction held a so-called “National Convention” on March 29-30, 2026, in Abuja. But who convened it?

Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Hon. Umar Bature, and Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade all of whom were under active suspension upheld by the Court of Appeal (March 9, 2026) and the Supreme Court (April 30, 2026).

Under Nigerian law, a suspended official cannot exercise the powers of their office. Any action taken by a suspended official is void ab initio null and void from the beginning. The Lagos PDP faction correctly stated: “The Abuja Convention of March 29, 2026, convened under this disputed authority, is rendered void ab initio, as it derives from an invalid institutional foundation”.

How can a convention convened by suspended officials be valid when the conveners themselves have no legal authority to act?

THE PDP BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACTED CONSTITUTIONALLY—SECTION 32(5) IS CLEAR

Following the Supreme Court judgment, the PDP Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, invoked Section 32(5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) , which empowers the Board as the second-highest organ of the party to take responsibility in extraordinary circumstances threatening the party’s existence.

Furthermore, the then Makinde-led bloc invoked Section 31 of the PDP Constitution, securing signatures from two-thirds of NEC members to establish the interim committee led by Turaki.

This was not a “factional” takeover it was a constitutional emergency measure to fill the leadership vacuum created by the Supreme Court’s suspension orders. The Turaki-led iNWC is the only leadership structure that emerged from strict compliance with the PDP Constitution and the Supreme Court’s directives.

THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IGNORED BINDING SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT

Justice Salim Ibrahim struck out our suit on three grounds, all of which are legally unsustainable:

1. “Lack of locus standi” : The court held that the plaintiffs, led by BoT Chairman Senator Wabara, lacked legal standing to sue. But under Section 32(5) of the PDP Constitution, the BoT Chairman has constitutional authority to act on behalf of the party in extraordinary circumstances. The court effectively nullified a constitutional provision of a registered political party an act that exceeds judicial competence.
2. “Academic question” : The judge held that the matter had become academic because INEC monitored the convention that produced the Mohammed-led executives. But INEC’s administrative recognition cannot override a binding Supreme Court judgment. INEC is not a court it cannot validate what the Supreme Court has invalidated.
3. “Abuse of court process” : The court described our suit as an attempt to relitigate settled issues. But the Supreme Court never ruled on the validity of the March 2026 convention it only nullified the Ibadan convention. The March 2026 convention is a live issue that has never been adjudicated upon by any court.

THE WINDOW FOR APPEAL IS NARROW. WE MUST ACT NOW

Under Nigerian law, we have 90 days from today to appeal this judgment to the Court of Appeal. The standard of review is de novo the appellate court will review the High Court’s interpretation of the PDP Constitution and the effect of the Supreme Court’s judgment afresh, without deferring to the trial judge.

The Court of Appeal must answer this fundamental question: Does a High Court have the power to resurrect officials whom the Supreme Court has stripped of authority?

The answer, under stare decisis, is an emphatic NO.

WHAT IS AT STAKE

This is not about personalities it is about the rule of law and the sanctity of judicial precedent. If we allow this judgment to stand, we will have established a dangerous precedent:

· That suspended officials can convene conventions and have them validated by lower courts.
· That Supreme Court judgments can be circumvented by convening fresh conventions.
· That INEC’s administrative recognition trumps binding judicial declarations.
· That political parties can ignore their own constitutions with impunity.

CONCLUSION

The Turaki-led iNWC must appeal this judgment. Not because we are sore losers, but because the law is on our side.

The Supreme Court has spoken Anyanwu, Ajibade, and Bature are suspended. Their March 2026 convention is a nullity. The BoT acted constitutionally. And no Federal High Court judge has the authority to overturn a Supreme Court decision.

We call on all lovers of justice, democracy, and the rule of law to stand with us as we pursue this appeal to its logical conclusion. The battle for the soul of the PDP is not over it has only just begun.

Adakole Ijogi is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and the FCT PDD Senatorial Candidate 2027.