The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court decision regarding the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In its judgment, the appellate court ruled that the lower court had overstepped its bounds by granting legal recognition to a factional caretaker committee when no party involved in the suit had asked for such a declaration. 

Background of the Dispute

The legal battle stems from a long-running internal crisis over the control of Nigeria’s main opposition party. On January 30, Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan delivered a judgment declaring that a PDP caretaker committee led by Abdurahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu was the legitimate leadership faction of the party.

Unhappy with this decision, opposing stakeholders within the party appealed the ruling, arguing that the High Court judge granted reliefs that were never formally sought.

The Appeal Court's Ruling

In a judgment delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, the Court of Appeal faulted Justice Agomoh’s ruling, stating that the trial judge went completely outside the scope of the case brought before her.

"In the instant case, there is clearly a live issue where the trial court went outside the reliefs sought to recognize and uphold a factional caretaker committee," Justice Onyemenam stated.

The appellate court emphasized that because none of the litigating parties had asked the High Court to decide on or validate the legitimacy of that specific caretaker committee, the judge’s intervention violated established judicial boundaries.

The Supreme Court Factor

The Court of Appeal further noted that the legal foundation of the Anyanwu-led caretaker committee had already been extinguished by the Supreme Court.

In April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered a split 3–2 judgment that officially nullified the controversial PDP National Convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, ruling that it was conducted in blatant violation of an active court order.

The Appeal Court stressed that because the Ibadan convention itself was declared null and void by the apex court, any leadership structures or committees built upon it have no legal legs to stand on.

Why This Matters

• No Retrial Ordered: The Appeal Court noted that it would have typically ordered a retrial regarding the leadership organs. However, because the Supreme Court already invalidated the core convention, ordering a retrial would serve "no practical legal purpose."

• Ultra Petita: While the appellate court stopped short of explicitly branding the High Court’s actions as ultra petita (a legal doctrine where a court grants more than what is requested), it firmly established that the trial judge acted without jurisdiction by inventing a remedy out of thin air.

• Impact on PDP Leadership: This ruling effectively strips the Abdurahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu faction of their court-ordered legitimacy, pushing the PDP back into a state of flux as different factions continue to wrestle for control of the party's National Working Committee (NWC).