The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Delivering judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the opposition party must first comply with the provisions of its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and the Electoral Act before proceeding with the exercise.
The case was filed by three aggrieved party members Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South). They argued that the planned convention violated the Electoral Act and internal party regulations.
The plaintiffs urged the court to halt the exercise, where new national officers were expected to emerge, pending proper compliance with due process.
The defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that evidence presented before the court showed that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses before planning the national convention.
The party must go back and put its house in order, the judge said, adding that the PDP must also issue the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before it can proceed with the proposed convention.
The court also restrained INEC from recognizing or giving effect to any PDP convention not conducted in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s own regulations.
Furthermore, the judge dismissed preliminary objections by the defendants who argued that the matter was an internal affair of the party, affirming that compliance with the law overrides internal party considerations.
The ruling effectively places the PDP’s leadership plans on hold until the party regularizes its congresses and follows due process as stipulated by law.
Details later…
