The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the November 14, 2025 judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan without allowing former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to participate as a chairmanship candidate.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel on Monday, March 3, 2026, the appellate court held that the PDP’s decision to conduct the convention in defiance of a valid subsisting Federal High Court order amounted to contempt of court and demonstrated disrespect for judicial authority.
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The panel rejected the PDP’s argument that it had acted in compliance with a judgment from another court of coordinate jurisdiction. The justices emphasised: “It is not for any party in a case to decide which order to obey or ignore.”
The court stressed that once a valid court order exists, the party must either: Apply for a stay of execution, or File an appeal against the judgment before proceeding with actions that violate the order.
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The appellate court further ruled that Justice Lifu acted correctly in assuming jurisdiction over Lamido’s suit and granting the reliefs sought. It described the PDP’s conduct as “contemptuous” and dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
The court awarded ₦2 million in costs against the PDP (appellant) in favour of the respondents.
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Sule Lamido had approached the Federal High Court seeking to participate as a chairmanship aspirant at the convention. Justice Lifu granted an order restraining the PDP from proceeding without including him. Despite the order, the party went ahead with the Ibadan convention, where Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki emerged as National Chairman.
The PDP appealed the ruling, arguing among other grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the matter was an internal party affair.
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The Court of Appeal’s decision effectively nullifies the outcome of the November convention in so far as it excluded Lamido, and reinforces the principle that parties cannot selectively obey court orders.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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