Court Stops PDP from Holding National Convention in Ibadan
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, next month.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Friday while ruling on a suit filed to determine whether the party could legally proceed with its convention slated for November 15 and 16.
The suit was instituted by three PDP officials — Austine Nwachukwu (Imo State chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State chairman), and Turnah George (South-South secretary) — who are reportedly allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The plaintiffs listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC) as defendants.
They argued that the PDP failed to comply with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act in the lead-up to the planned convention. According to their counsel, no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states, making the planned convention unconstitutional.
“The issue before the court is whether the defendants violated the law. It cannot be dismissed as an internal party matter,” the plaintiffs’ lawyer told the court.
The PDP, however, countered that the matter was strictly an internal party affair and beyond the court’s jurisdiction, accusing the claimants of attempting to disrupt a legitimate leadership transition process.
The controversy comes amid ongoing internal rifts and legal battles within the party. Senator Anyanwu, the PDP’s National Secretary and a Wike ally, recently petitioned security agencies, alleging that his signature was forged on documents notifying INEC of the convention — an allegation dismissed by both the NWC and the Board of Trustees.
In a related development, the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) has indefinitely postponed the screening of aspirants initially scheduled for October 28, reportedly to await the outcome of the court’s ruling before taking further steps.
