The Federal High Court in Abuja has halted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, scheduled for November 15 and 16.
In a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court upheld a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, ruling that the PDP failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and its own Constitution.
The court held that the evidence presented before it showed that the party did not conduct valid state congresses before attempting to hold the national convention to elect new officers.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered the PDP to first resolve its internal irregularities and issue the mandatory 21-day statutory notice before proceeding with the proposed convention.
The plaintiffs — Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) — had in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, asked the court to restrain the PDP from holding the convention.
The defendants listed in the case included the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the PDP; the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; two national officers, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi; along with the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
The court also dismissed preliminary objections filed by the defendants challenging its jurisdiction, ruling that the matter was justiciable despite being an internal party issue.
