The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has directed its lawyers to immediately file an appeal on the judgment of the Oyo Division of the Federal High Court, nullifying the party’s national convention held recently in Ibadan, the state capital.

The party said in a statement on Friday by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, that there was no cause for alarm. It insisted that the convention’s outcome remained legally intact and unshaken.

“We are aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered this morning, which essentially declined to grant the order of mandamus sought on the ground that doing so would, in the court’s view, amount to sitting on appeal over judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“We have, accordingly, briefed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal and to take all further legal steps necessary to advance our arguments and firmly protect our position on this matter.

“Notwithstanding this judgment, the Turaki–led Peoples Democratic Party, which emerged from the Ibadan Convention, remains legally intact and unshaken, as we await the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts,” Mr Ememobong said.

He urged PDP members to remain resolute and committed, saying, “There is absolutely no cause for alarm.”

Mr Ememobong added that the rebirth movement remained firmly on course.

Earlier, Justice Uche Agomoh nullified the convention held in Ibadan between November 15 and 16, 2025. He held that the caretaker committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu remained the only recognised National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, pending the conduct of a valid national convention.

The Turaki faction of the PDP had filed the suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, seeking recognition of the convention and validation of the NWC that emerged there.

Mr Agomoh also barred Mr Turaki and other officials purportedly elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party forthwith.

He ruled that the convention was held in flagrant disregard of two subsisting judgments of the same court.

Consequently, the court set aside all decisions taken at the convention.

The judge further ruled that the PDP could operate only through the caretaker committee until a proper and lawful national convention was held.

The judgment follows a protracted crisis within the PDP, which held a contentious national elective convention in Ibadan despite existing court orders.

Justice Peter Life of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had ordered the suspension of the PDP convention in a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

Mr Lamido had challenged the process, alleging that he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest for the party’s chairmanship, in violation of the PDP constitution and guidelines.