The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday, March 9, 2026, upheld a Federal High Court ruling that barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, without giving former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, the opportunity to contest for the party’s national chairmanship.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel affirmed the November 14, 2025, judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the PDP to include Lamido in the chairmanship race.
The appellate court found that the PDP acted in defiance of the court’s order by proceeding with the convention while the directive was still in force.
The panel noted that the party did not dispute conducting the event despite the Federal High Court’s ruling.
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The court also dismissed the PDP’s claim that its actions were based on a separate order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
It emphasized that no party can choose which court order to follow while disregarding another.
The appellate panel stated that the proper course for the PDP would have been to seek a stay of execution or appeal the Federal High Court judgment.
The court concluded that the lower court correctly exercised its jurisdiction in hearing Lamido’s suit and granting the reliefs sought.
The appeal, filed by the PDP and marked CA/ABJ/1695/2025, was dismissed for lacking merit, with the court awarding N2 million in costs against the party.