Court of Appeal Affirms Judicial Restraint on PDP National Convention Outcomes Amid Persistent Internal Leadership Crisis

The Abuja Court of Appeal upholds the block on PDP's Ibadan convention results and fines the party ₦2m. Read the full verdict on the internal leadership crisis.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

Appellate Court Upholds Lower Court Restraints

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered a significant judicial setback as the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed its challenge against a previous Federal High Court ruling. A three-member panel of the appellate court delivered a unanimous judgment on Monday, confirming that the initial injunction preventing the recognition of the party’s national convention in Ibadan remains in full force. This decision effectively stalls the party's efforts to formalize leadership transitions originally scheduled for mid-November, deepening the administrative paralysis currently affecting the main opposition group.

Rejection of Internal Affairs Defense

In its deliberation, the appellate court systematically addressed and rejected the four primary issues raised by the PDP legal team. A central argument presented by the party was that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in what it termed the "internal affairs" of a political organization. However, the justices ruled that when democratic rights are at stake, the judiciary maintains the authority to intervene. The panel affirmed that the plaintiffs possessed the necessary legal standing to institute the case, as the matter touched upon the fundamental rights of party members rather than mere administrative preference.

Affirmation of Fair Hearing and Procedural Integrity

The appellate court also dismissed claims by the PDP that it had been denied a fair hearing during the initial proceedings before Justice James Omotosho. By affirming the October 31 ruling of the Federal High Court, the appellate justices signaled that the lower court had acted within its mandate when granting reliefs that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from certifying the convention's outcomes. The ruling emphasizes that the procedural integrity of the lower court remained intact despite the party's assertions of bias or restricted participation.