Politics
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA expresses grave concern and unequivocal outrage over the recent judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the November 2025 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
While the apex court, in a split decision of three to two delivered by Justice Stephen Adah and led by Justice Mohammed Garba, upheld earlier rulings that voided the convention on grounds of disobedience to lawful court orders, HURIWA asserts that the broader context and consequences of this judgment raise fundamental questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic and judicial processes.
HURIWA states without equivocation that this verdict bears the troubling imprint of political interference and elite compromise. The ruling, in our considered view, reflects not just a legal conclusion but a deeply questionable outcome that appears to align conveniently with the strategic interests of powerful political actors.
“This verdict has all the trappings of a procurement by the highest bidder. It reeks of political trade-offs by influential figures aligned with the Presidency who are determined to weaken, fracture, and ultimately sell off the PDP as a viable opposition platform,” HURIWA declares.
The association is particularly alarmed by allegations and emerging patterns suggesting that some governors elected on the platform of the PDP may have played complicit roles in undermining their own party.
“It is both tragic and dangerous that individuals entrusted with the mandate of the people could allegedly engage in actions that amount to the political crucifixion of their own party. If these claims hold any weight, then what we are witnessing is a betrayal of democratic trust at the highest level,” HURIWA warns.
The apex court held that the PDP acted in contempt by proceeding with its convention despite subsisting court orders and ruled that the matter transcended internal party affairs due to violations of due process. However, HURIWA cautions that legal reasoning, no matter how sound on the surface, must not be divorced from the political realities and implications surrounding such high-stakes decisions.
The nullified convention had produced a factional leadership led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), amid intense internal rivalry. The legal challenge, initiated by aggrieved members including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, centred on exclusion and procedural breaches, with prior restraining orders issued by Justices Peter Lifu and James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
While the Supreme Court affirmed that the PDP’s actions constituted contempt of court, HURIWA insists that the ruling has now opened a dangerous door for the manipulation of judicial processes in resolving political disputes.
“What we are witnessing goes beyond the PDP. This is about the future of opposition politics in Nigeria. If judicial outcomes—rightly or wrongly perceived—begin to mirror political expectations, then democracy itself is imperilled,” the statement noted.
HURIWA further warns that the verdict could accelerate the erosion of multiparty democracy by weakening opposition structures and consolidating political dominance in a manner that undermines electoral competitiveness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The implication is clear: a major opposition party has been thrown into deeper crisis at a critical time in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. This raises legitimate concerns about whether the playing field is being systematically tilted,” the group added.
The association calls for urgent introspection within the judiciary to preserve its independence and credibility, stressing that public confidence in the courts must not be allowed to diminish.
“We are approaching a precarious point where citizens may begin to question the neutrality of the judiciary. Once that trust is eroded, the consequences for national stability and rule of law will be severe,” HURIWA cautioned.
HURIWA also urged members and stakeholders of the PDP to remain steadfast and pursue lawful avenues to rebuild and reposition the party.
“Political parties are not sustained by court judgments alone but by the will, resilience, and collective action of their members. This moment, though challenging, must be seen as an opportunity for internal reform and recommitment to democratic ideals,” it stated.
The association concluded by calling on civil society, the media, and the international community to closely monitor developments within Nigeria’s political and judicial space.
“The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy is under intense scrutiny. What unfolds in the coming months will determine whether democratic institutions remain independent pillars of justice or instruments of political expediency,” HURIWA said.
A.I
April 30, 2026
Tags: Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria HURIWA Justice Mohammed Garba Justice Stephen Adah PDP