Court Halts PDP’s Planned National Convention in Ibadan
The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho upheld a suit filed by three aggrieved party members who questioned the legality of the proposed convention. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs had successfully demonstrated that the PDP failed to comply with key provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and its own constitution.
Justice Omotosho noted that the party did not validly conduct state congresses prior to initiating plans for the national convention to elect new national officers. He therefore directed the PDP to “put its house in order” and fully adhere to all legal and procedural requirements — including the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC — before convening the convention.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was instituted by Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The defendants in the case included the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, two national officers, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi, as well as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
The court also dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defendants, who had contended that the dispute was an internal party matter and beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
