The Peoples Democratic Party’s planned national convention, which was set for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, was halted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday until further notice.
In his ruling in a case with the filing number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho directed that the convention be put on hold until the party conforms with the Electoral Act, its own constitution, and the Nigerian Constitution.
Three irate party members, Austin Nwachukwu (chairman of the Imo PDP), Amah Abraham Nnanna (chairman of the Abia PDP), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), filed the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs requested that the court halt the PDP’s planned national convention in Ibadan, which was supposed to elect new national officers.
The nine defendants in the case are: the Independent National Electoral Commission, the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary of the PDP), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Justice Omotosho, in the judgment delivered, held that the evidence before the court established that the party failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the INEC guidelines, and the PDP’s own constitution.
The court found that the PDP did not conduct valid state congresses before proceeding to organise the planned national convention to elect its national officers.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho directed the PDP “to go back and put its house in order, and to give the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before it can proceed with the proposed convention.”
The judge also restrained INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of any PDP national convention that is not conducted in accordance with due process, the law, and INEC’s own regulations.
According to the court, INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that fails to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines.
The court also dismissed preliminary objections filed by the defendants challenging its jurisdiction on the grounds that the matter was an internal affair of the party.
