iDeemlawfulThe Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its scheduled national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment, upheld the suit filed by three aggrieved party members, ruling that the PDP failed to comply with the 1999 Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and its own constitution.
The court found that the party did not conduct valid state congresses before planning to elect new national officers at the proposed convention.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered the PDP to “put its house in order” and issue the statutory 21-day notice before proceeding with the event.
The plaintiffs—Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South)—filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, seeking to halt the convention.
Listed as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, party officers Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi, and both the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
The court dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objections challenging its jurisdiction, stating that the matter went beyond internal party affairs.
Background
In June, Nyesom Wike met with some South-South and South-East PDP members in an attempt to delay the national convention initially set for August 28. The FCT minister later supported a proposal to shift it to October for better preparation.
Despite being a PDP member, Wike is widely believed to be influencing the party’s internal crisis to strengthen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election prospects in 2027.
The PDP Governors’ Forum had, in September, warned Wike and others against disrupting the planned convention scheduled for November 15 in Ibadan.
Earlier this week, the party postponed the screening of aspirants for the 2025 convention due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
“The National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has put on hold the screening of aspirants for the 2025 Elective National Convention, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, due to unforeseen circumstances,” a statement signed by Umaru Fintiri, Chairman of the convention committee and Governor of Adamawa State, read in part.
“A new date will be communicated once fixed. The NCOC regrets any inconvenience caused by the postponement,” the statement added.
