ABUJA: The main opposition party in Nigeria, the PDP, is still preparing to hold its national convention on Saturday as planned, despite conflicting court orders.
A High Court in Oyo State on Thursday became the latest to permit the party to proceed, reaffirming its earlier order allowing preparations to continue until it delivers judgment on a suit before it.
The plaintiffs in that suit asked the court to stop the PDP National Chairman, Ilya Damagun, and the National Working Committee from halting the convention preparations as earlier ordered by another court.
The PDP has already said preparations are in top gear at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
Last week, the faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike suspended Damagun and announced a new Board of Trustees the highest advisory body of the party while also suspending several top leaders.
They took this action after the PDP National Working Committee suspended some party leaders loyal to Wike, including the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Separately, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido also filed a suit challenging the decision preventing him from buying the nomination form to contest for National Chairman ahead of the November 15 election.
The PDP first faced a restraining order on October 31, when an Abuja Federal High Court ordered it to suspend preparations for its national convention scheduled for November 15–16.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order following a suit filed by three individuals aligned with Wike, who vowed to block the convention over his dispute with the PDP leadership.
The plaintiffs argued that the PDP violated its own constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 by planning the convention without conducting party congresses in 14 states.
Their lawyer told the court that the PDP did not hold state congresses in these states, which he claimed was unlawful.
Additionally, the PDP National Secretary (Allied to Wike) filed a complaint to security agencies alleging that party leaders forged his signature on documents submitted to INEC notifying the commission about the convention an allegation the PDP denied.
On Tuesday, November 11, another Abuja High Court stopped preparations for the convention again, following a suit by Sule Lamido.
Justice Peter Lifu ordered the halt pending the hearing and determination of Lamido’s case and also barred INEC from monitoring the process.
He stated that he agreed with Lamido’s claim that the PDP failed to publish the convention timetable, as required by the Electoral Act.
The court was expected to deliver judgment on Thursday but failed to do so, creating further confusion for both Lamido and the PDP.
In a conflicting ruling on November 4, an Oyo State High Court ordered the PDP to continue with convention preparations.
Justice Ladiran Akintola instructed party officials to avoid any attempt to halt the process and directed INEC to deploy observers for the exercise.
PDP called the ruling a major victory, saying the National Convention Organizing Committee could now finalize arrangements to host over 3,000 delegates.
The PDP said it was shocked by the first restraining order but insisted it would not affect the party’s plans.
In a statement on October 31, party spokesperson Debo Ologunagba said the ruling would be appealed, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming a political party’s independence in managing its internal affairs.
On Thursday, the PDP shared fresh photos and videos of ongoing preparations under the supervision of Oyo Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, who chairs the venue-preparation subcommittee.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki advised the PDP to suspend the convention due to the multiple conflicting court orders.
Posting on X, Saraki said holding a convention under such legal uncertainties could jeopardize the legitimacy of any decisions made …
