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Nigeria’s opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suffered a major political setback on Monday after losing a sitting governor to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while simultaneously suffering a significant legal defeat at the Court of Appeal of Nigeria over its controversial national convention.
The twin developments, which unfolded within hours of each other, have intensified the internal turmoil currently rocking the PDP and raised fresh questions about the party’s cohesion and political stability ahead of future electoral contests.
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Governor Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
In the first shock of the day, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, formally defected from the PDP to the APC.
The announcement was made at the Government House in Gusau by the Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, who spoke on behalf of the governor.
Mummuni disclosed that the decision followed “extensive consultations with key political stakeholders across the state,” explaining that the move was endorsed during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Rescue Hall of the Government House in Gusau.
According to him, the governor initiated a broad engagement process to review the political climate in the state before the final decision to leave the PDP was taken.
“The decision was reached after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Rescue Hall, Government House, Gusau, following wide consultations initiated by the governor to assess the political situation in the state,” he said.
He added that the defection was largely influenced by the deepening internal crisis within the PDP, stressing that the governor and his supporters believed aligning with the ruling party would provide a stronger platform to address Zamfara’s security and development challenges.
Mummuni explained that stakeholders advised the governor to identify with the APC’s “Renewed Hope” agenda in the interest of stability and progress.
“The decision reflects the governor’s commitment to unity, stability, and accelerated development for the people of Zamfara State and the country at large,” the deputy governor said.
He further urged political supporters and stakeholders across the state to begin registering with the APC through the party’s e-registration platform as part of efforts to expand its membership base.
The defection followed weeks of intense speculation about Governor Lawal’s political future, which heightened after developments surrounding the PDP’s disputed national convention.
Appeal Court Upholds Ruling Against PDP Convention
Barely hours after the governor’s defection announcement, the PDP was hit by another blow when the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja affirmed a judgment barring the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2026.
The convention had produced a factional leadership of the party, with Taminu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emerging as National Chairman.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court held that statutory conditions precedent were not fulfilled before the convention was conducted.
The court ruled that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja was correct in his earlier judgment delivered on October 31, 2025, which had stopped the planned convention.
According to the appellate court, the lower court properly assumed jurisdiction over the matter because the issues raised related to compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, the Constitution, and guidelines governing political parties.
It therefore dismissed the appeal filed by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1613/2025, holding that the substantive suit had merit.
The panel rejected the argument that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of the party, explaining that the case involved statutory compliance required under Nigerian electoral laws.
Convention Faulted Over Procedural Violations
The Federal High Court had earlier ruled that evidence before it established that the PDP failed to comply with key statutory provisions before conducting the convention.
The court upheld a suit filed by three aggrieved party members — Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.
The plaintiffs are believed to be aligned with a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In its judgment, the court held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in 14 states before fixing the national convention.
According to the court, it was impossible for a national convention to be validly conducted when the congresses required to produce delegates who would elect national officers had not been held in those states.
The court also faulted the process used to notify the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), about the planned convention.
It noted that the notice for the convention was signed solely by the party’s National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, without the endorsement of the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Justice Omotosho ruled that such notices and correspondences amounted to a nullity in law.
He therefore directed the party to return to the drawing board, conduct the necessary congresses, and provide the statutory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to INEC in compliance with electoral regulations.
Court Restrains INEC from Recognising Convention Outcome
Among the defendants listed in the suit were INEC, the PDP, its National Chairman Damagum, National Secretary Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, as well as party officials Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
The court held that the electoral body could not recognise or publish the outcome of any convention conducted without strict adherence to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022.
Consequently, it restrained INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention until the party complied with the relevant legal and procedural requirements.
The court emphasised that a political party is not entitled to hold a national convention unless it has established a valid framework for electing delegates who will participate in the process.
Appeal Dismissed with N2 Million Cost
Despite the earlier restraining order, the PDP had subsequently obtained a contradictory order that allowed it to proceed with the convention.
However, following Monday’s judgment by the Court of Appeal, the Turaki-led faction’s appeal was dismissed and the appellants were ordered to pay N2 million in costs.
Growing Crisis Within the PDP
Political analysts say the simultaneous defection of a sitting governor and the judicial setback over the party’s convention highlight the depth of the internal crisis confronting the PDP.
The developments have further exposed divisions within the party and intensified the struggle between rival factions over its national leadership and organisational structure.
With the loss of a governor and a court ruling that throws its convention into legal uncertainty, the PDP now faces renewed pressure to resolve its internal disputes and rebuild unity within its ranks.
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