The Federal High Court in Abuja has halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pending full compliance with the party’s constitution, statutory provisions, and the Electoral Act.
Justice James Omotosho, in a landmark judgment delivered on Thursday, ruled that the PDP cannot proceed with its scheduled convention until it adheres to all internal and legal procedures governing such exercises.
The ruling followed a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, who sought an injunction to stop the convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The convention was meant to elect new national officers of the party.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on any report arising from a PDP national convention not conducted in strict accordance with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s own guidelines and regulations.
The court held that INEC “is not entitled to give effect to the convention of a political party conducted contrary to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the internal regulations of the party.”
The plaintiffs had argued that the planned convention breached the PDP’s constitutional provisions and failed to meet statutory requirements guiding the conduct of internal party elections.
The nine defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC); National Executive Committee (NEC); Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.
With this ruling, the court’s order effectively halts all preparations for the convention until the party rectifies the identified breaches, signaling yet another internal challenge for the main opposition party ahead of its leadership transition.
