• Turaki docked, gets N100m bail
• Gombe-led ADC faction urges calm ahead of judgment

The Supreme Court, yesterday, reserved its judgment in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to overturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the conduct of the party’s national convention, last year, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It also reserved judgment in the appeal by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to intervene in the ADC’s internal affairs.

However, a faction of ADC led by Nafiu Bala Gombe appealed to party members to remain calm, united, and law-abiding as they await the reserved judgment of the apex court.

Justice Lawal Garba, who led the five-member panel of Justices, announced the judgment reservation after lawyers representing the parties in the appeal adopted their processes as briefs of argument, for and against the appeal.

Garba said that the judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated to all parties in the appeal.

The Tanimu Turaki-led faction had asked the apex court to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision invalidating the Ibadan convention held on November 15 to 16, 2025.

It appealed to the apex court, arguing that the matter borders on internal party affairs, which are not justiciable, and that due processes were followed.
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Lower courts had ruled against the Turaki faction, nullifying the Ibadan convention, barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcomes, and, in some rulings, restricting access to the national secretariat.

The suits by Turaki-led PDP are against two judgments delivered on March 9, affirming two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja that ordered PDP not to hold its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, until it complied with relevant statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).
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In October 2025, the federal high court in Abuja stopped the PDP faction led by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi from proceeding with its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

On November 14, Lifu made a final order restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention.

He held that the evidence before the court established that Lamido was unjustly denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest the position of national chairman of the party, in violation of the PDP constitution and its internal regulations.

IN a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP faction reacted after proceedings at the apex court, where the appeals challenge judgments delivered by Justices Omotosho and Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, and affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

MEANWHILE, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting at Maitama, yesterday, granted N100 million bail to Turaki.

Turaki, who served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015, was accused of providing false information to the police in a petition he lodged in 2022. He was arraigned before trial Justice Peter Kekemeke on a charge marked CR/647/2026, which the Inspector General of Police (IGP) entered against him.

The police maintained that he committed an offence under Section 140 of the Penal Code.

Kekemeke had issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest on March 26, following his repeated failure to appear before the court for arraignment. The arrest order was subsequently vacated on April 1 after the embattled factional PDP chairman made himself available to the court and pledged his readiness for trial.

Turaki pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him in open court yesterday, and the defence counsel, Abulaziz Ibrahim (SAN), prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.

GOMBE commended his followers in ADC for their resilience and steadfast dedication to the party’s ideals throughout the period of uncertainty.

In a goodwill message addressed to party members, Gombe expressed appreciation for their patience, loyalty and commitment during the legal process, describing the period as a defining moment for the party.

He said the moment calls for calm, unity and unwavering faith in the rule of law, adding that the ADC remains confident that justice will prevail.

“While we await the court’s pronouncement, I urge every member to remain peaceful, law-abiding and focused on our shared vision for Nigeria. Our schedule of activities shall be communicated through official channels immediately after judgment is delivered.

“Together, we shall emerge stronger, more united, and better positioned to deliver credible leadership to our great party,” he added.