By Philomina Brando
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho upheld the 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 party did not conduct valid state congresses before scheduling the convention to elect new national officers. Consequently, it ordered the PDP to put its internal processes in order and issue the mandatory 21-day notice before convening any national convention.
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 proposed convention.
Listed as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, two national officers, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi, as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
Justice Omotosho also dismissed preliminary objections filed by the defendants challenging the court’s jurisdiction, holding that the matter went beyond internal party affairs.
More details soon…