UPDATED: COURT STOPS PDP NATIONAL CONVENTION AGAIN
Read Time:3 Minute, 1 Second
BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The Peoples Democratic Party’s planned national convention, which was supposed to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, from November 15 to 16, has once again been halted by an Abuja Federal High Court.
The court also prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission from overseeing, keeping an eye on, or acknowledging any results from the scheduled convention where national offices were supposed to be chosen. Justice Peter Lifu imposed the restraining order on Tuesday while ruling on an application filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Lamido had filed a lawsuit against the party, claiming that he was excluded from the exercise because he was wrongfully refused the chance to buy the nomination form for the national chairmanship position.
Justice Lifu said the order became necessary because the PDP failed to comply with the relevant legal requirements guiding the conduct of such conventions.
He noted that evidence before the court showed the party did not publish the timetable for the exercise as required by law, and therefore acted in breach of due process.
The judge further held that the balance of convenience favoured Lamido, as he would suffer greater harm if unlawfully excluded from the process.
“In a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly observed by those in authority. To act otherwise is to endanger the very foundation of democracy itself,” he said.
He added that, under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, courts must not abdicate their responsibility of delivering justice without fear or favour.
Justice Lifu warned that anarchy could result anywhere the judiciary fails to perform its constitutional duties.
In his final ruling, the court restrained the PDP from holding the convention on November 15 and 16, or on any other date, in Ibadan or elsewhere.
It also ordered INEC not to monitor or recognise the outcome of any such gathering organised by the party.
In his final ruling, the court restrained the PDP from holding the convention on November 15 and 16, or on any other date, in Ibadan or elsewhere.
It also ordered INEC not to monitor or recognise the outcome of any such gathering organised by the party.
In October 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the PDP from proceeding with its planned national convention.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the convention be halted until the party complies with the statutory requirements of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), and Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman) were the three party members that filed the lawsuit. They said that the planned convention violated the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal regulations, and they requested the court to halt the PDP’s planned national convention in Ibadan, where new national officers were to be elected. On November 4, however, the PDP was given permission by the Oyo State High Court to move on with its convention. After Folahan Adelabi filed an ex-parte motion against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee), and INEC, Justice Akintola issued an interim order allowing the party to proceed with its convention plans without hindrance.
However, in a different lawsuit brought by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its acting National Chairman, and other respondents, Justice Akintola postponed the hearing of a Motion on Notice on Monday.
The judge explained that the adjournment was to allow both parties to file and exchange all necessary processes before the substantive hearing could begin.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0