BREAKING: Court stops PDP National Convention from holding

BREAKING: Court stops PDP National Convention from holding

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

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Friday in the suit instituted by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido. The court had earlier, on November 11, granted a temporary order stopping the convention pending determination of the substantive matter.

Lamido approached the court alleging that the PDP denied him the opportunity to purchase the nomination form required to contest for the national chairmanship position at the convention.

In the final judgment, Justice Lifu ruled that the evidence presented confirmed that Lamido was unjustly deprived of the chance to obtain the form, a violation of the PDP constitution and its internal guidelines. He added that the party is under a “strict” obligation to follow its own rules and ensure that eligible members are allowed to pursue political ambitions.

The court therefore ordered that the convention must be suspended to give Lamido time to collect the nomination form, mobilise his supporters, and conduct his campaign.
“An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff,” the judge declared.
“In the light of the above, it is hereby held that the convention be put on hold for the plaintiff to obtain a nomination form, campaign and mobilise supporters.”

Justice Lifu further restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring or recognising any PDP convention that excludes Lamido as a contestant.

This ruling follows a similar decision on October 31, when Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court also stopped the PDP from proceeding with the convention. Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required under the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and its own constitution. That suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by Austine Nwachukwu, Imo State PDP chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia State chairman; and Turnah George, south-south secretary—figures widely seen as allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

However, on November 4, the Oyo State High Court ordered the PDP and its acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention. Justice A.L. Akintola issued the directive in response to an ex parte application filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi.

Tensions escalated further on Monday when some allies of Wike petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), seeking sanctions against Justice Akintola for alleged judicial misconduct and abuse of offic