Abuja court restrains PDP from holding planned national convention, again
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again been restrained from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a report by Channels, the court also stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any outcome from the convention.
The restraining order was issued by Justice Peter Lifu on Tuesday while ruling on an application filed by former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.
Justice Lifu stated that the PDP’s failure to comply with the relevant legal requirements guiding the conduct of its conventions, necessitated the order, adding that the party did not publish the timetable for the exercise as required by law, thereby breaching due process.
He further stated that Lamido would suffer greater harm if unlawfully excluded from the process, having sued the party for denying him the opportunity to purchase the nomination form.
“In a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly observed by those in authority. To act otherwise is to endanger the very foundation of democracy itself,” the judge noted.
Justice Lifu therefore restrained the PDP from holding the convention on the scheduled date, or on any other date, in Ibadan or elsewhere, while also ordering INEC not to monitor or recognise the outcome.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja, on October 31, had stopped the PDP from conducting its planned national convention pending its compliance with the requirements of the party’s constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
Justice Omotosho had held that the evidence before the court established that the party failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the PDP’s constitution and INEC guidelines, stating that the PDP did not conduct valid state congresses before proceeding with preparations for the national convention.
He had directed the PDP “to go back and put its house in order, and to give the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before it can proceed with the proposed convention”, while restraining INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of any PDP national convention that is not conducted in accordance with due process, the law, and INEC’s own regulations.
Justice Omotosho had also ruled in the verdict that INEC cannot give recognition to the outcome of any convention organized by political parties that fail to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the respective parties’ guidelines.
In a contradictory ruling however on November 4, a high court sitting in Oyo State approved the planned national convention of the PDP in an ex parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi.
Justice Ladiran Akintola had issued an interim order permitting the party to continue its convention plans without obstruction, after the ex-parte motion was filed against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Umaru Fintiri, and INEC.
Justice Akintola ordered the party and its committees to hold, conduct and convene the national convention as planned, pending determination of the motion on notice, while directing the PDP leadership to follow the guidelines, timetable and schedule of activities earlier released for the convention, and ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor and observe the conduct of the convention in line with the Electoral Act.
After granting the ex parte motion filed by Adelabi, Justice Akintola adjourned the hearing of the case to November 10, 2025.
On November 10 however, Justice Akintola adjourned the hearing in a separate suit filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its acting National Chairman, and other respondents, on the grounds of allowing both parties file and exchange necessary processes before commencing the hearing.
