A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16, 2025.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order while ruling on a suit filed by Austine Nwachukwu, the Imo State chairman of the PDP; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State chairman; and Turnah George, the South-South factional secretary of the party.
The plaintiffs, who are political allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urged the court to halt the exercise.
Contending that the PDP failed to comply with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act during preparations for the convention, they argued that “no congress was conducted in 14 states”.
While the PDP maintained that the case falls strictly within its internal affairs and, therefore, lies outside the court’s jurisdiction, the party accused the claimants of attempting to disrupt a legitimate leadership transition process.
However, ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho declared that the planned national convention violated the Nigerian constitution, guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the PDP constitution since the party failed to conduct valid state congresses before it moved to hold the convention.
The court also ordered the party to send the statutory 21-day notice for the convention before proceeding with the proposed convention.
Defendants sued in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the PDP; and the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Others are the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC); the National Executive Committee (NEC); the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; and two members of the party, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
