Why court halts PDP national convention

The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho upheld a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members, ruling that the party failed to comply with key provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and its own constitution.

The judge held that the PDP’s failure to conduct valid state congresses before proceeding with the convention rendered the planned exercise invalid. He further ruled that official notices signed solely by the PDP National Chairman without the National Secretary’s endorsement were unlawful and therefore null and void.

Justice Omotosho also faulted the party for not issuing the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC ahead of its meetings and congresses, thereby denying the electoral body its statutory role of monitoring such activities.

“The PDP’s failure to comply with these legal requirements has put the planned convention in jeopardy,” the judge stated, advising the party to address all irregularities before proceeding with any national election.

Consequently, the court restrained INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognizing any outcome from the proposed convention until the PDP meets all legal conditions.

Before delivering judgment, the court dismissed preliminary objections by the defendants, who argued that the matter was an internal party issue beyond judicial interference.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South PDP Secretary). The defendants included INEC, the PDP, its National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, two other national officers, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi, as well as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State led several PDP chieftains to the court on Friday ahead of the judgment.

The ruling comes amid internal tensions in the party, with PDP governors recently warning key stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against actions that could derail the national convention.