PDP CONVENES EMERGENCY MEETING AFTER COURT STOPS NATIONAL CONVENTION
Read Time:3 Minute, 5 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) following Friday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which halted its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A member of the NWC, who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed that the meeting would hold on Saturday at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
“That’s the judgment. However, I know that the NWC has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow. The leaders will review what transpired throughout the process and determine the next line of action,” the official said.
“The party is set for a very serious deliberation, which will shape its next steps and provide members and Nigerians a clearer sense of direction in the coming days,” the source added.
The emergency meeting follows a ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stopping the opposition party from holding its national convention over alleged violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its internal constitution.
Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states and breached the law by not issuing the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before convening the convention.
Omotosho ruled that the lapses were fundamental and rendered the entire process leading to the proposed convention invalid.
“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” he declared.
The judge further ruled that all convention notices must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary, noting that “the signing of such documents by the chairman alone was unlawful.”
Consequently, he restrained INEC from monitoring, recognising, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that failed to meet legal requirements.
“INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that does not comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines,” Omotosho said.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary) — who argued that the planned convention violated the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules.
They alleged that no valid congresses were conducted in at least 14 states before the NWC and National Executive Committee (NEC) issued notice for the convention.
The nine defendants in the suit include INEC, the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the NWC, the NEC, Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Rejecting the PDP’s preliminary objection that the case was an internal affair, Justice Omotosho ruled that compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines transcends party matters.
“Non-compliance with the rules and regulations of INEC and political parties cannot be regarded as an internal affair of a political party. INEC has the power to issue subsidiary legislation for the conduct of political parties, and such subsidiary legislation has the force of law,” he stated.
The ruling sparked mixed reactions in the courtroom, which was filled with lawyers, journalists, and party members. Despite the hum of the air conditioner, tension filled the room as the judge read his decision.
As soon as the judgment was delivered, the plaintiffs’ supporters broke into songs and dances, while the PDP delegation quietly exited the courtroom, their faces downcast.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0