Speaking on news, Sani explained that the court merely upheld the lower court’s judgment and did not prohibit the convention from taking place.

He said the lower court had only issued conditions that needed to be met before the convention, stressing that nowhere in its judgment was the convention banned.

“The Court of Appeal did not nullify the convention. What the court did was uphold the judgment of the lower court, and that judgment was issued before the convention,” Sani said.

He added, “The lower court only set conditions for us to fulfill before holding the convention. Nowhere did it say the convention should not be held. There was no directive that we must conduct congresses in 14 states, put our house in order, notify INEC, and then hold the convention.”

Regarding the next legal steps, Sani stated, “If the court claims that we didn’t hold a convention, we will challenge that at the Supreme Court because we believe it is not the court’s business to intervene in internal leadership matters within a political party.”

The operation, carried out on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, also resulted in the neutralisation of numerous insurgents, the service confirmed on Thursday.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, stated that the successful strikes were guided by credible intelligence and continuous surveillance of terrorist activities in the area.

“The strikes disrupted the adversary’s operational mobility and reinforced the effectiveness of intelligence-driven airpower in support of ongoing security efforts,” Ejodame said, noting that the operation significantly weakened the insurgents’ capabilities.

The air strikes are part of ongoing military operations under Operation Hadin Kai, aimed at combating insurgency and restoring stability across Nigeria’s North-East region.

The operation follows a reaffirmation by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, of the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining decisive air superiority in the theatre of operations. According to Aneke, sustained aerial dominance is critical to consolidating the gains achieved by security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, Chief of Operations at NAF Headquarters, conducted a visit to the NAF Base in Maiduguri, Borno State, to assess the readiness of personnel and equipment. During the visit, he reviewed the operational environment and received briefings from the Air Component and the 105 Composite Group, which highlighted the base’s preparedness for high-tempo joint operations alongside other security agencies.

Engagements were also held with the Theatre Command Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai to strengthen air-ground coordination. Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme, Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, also visited the base to boost the morale of deployed personnel.

Commenting on the operation, Air Marshal Aneke reiterated the NAF’s commitment to sustained aerial operations against insurgent groups. He emphasized that coordinated air and ground operations are vital in shaping the battlefield and limiting hostile movements.

“The NAF remains focused on maintaining persistent air presence, delivering precision effects, and supporting joint forces to consolidate hard-won gains toward lasting peace and stability,” Aneke said.