Court Orders PDP to Maintain Status Quo on Planned National Convention

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 7, 2025, for ruling on the suit seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Justice James Omotosho scheduled the date after hearing arguments from both sides — the three aggrieved members of the party who filed the suit and the PDP leadership opposing it.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Omotosho reaffirmed his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the planned convention, warning that his directive must not be violated. He further cautioned that he would nullify any action taken in breach of the order while the matter remains pending before the court.

Plaintiffs Argue Violation of Constitution

Lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court not to dismiss the case as a mere internal party issue. He argued that the plaintiffs’ claims were rooted in the need to uphold the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP Constitution.

Daudu contended that under the Nigerian Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must monitor political party congresses before they can be deemed valid.

According to him, no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) issued the notice for the November convention.

PDP Counters, Says Case Is Internal

However, counsel to the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the grounds that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of the party.

Erokoro’s position was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who appeared for the PDP’s NWC and NEC. Jegede argued that the court lacked constitutional authority to interfere in matters relating to a political party’s internal management, including congresses and conventions.

Aggrieved Members Seek to Halt Convention

The suit was filed by Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South). The trio are seeking a court order to suspend the planned national convention, where new national officers are expected to be elected.

They allege that the planned exercise breaches the PDP Constitution, as several state congresses were not properly conducted before the notice of convention was issued.

The nine defendants listed in the suit include:

1.     The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

2.     The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

3.     Samuel Anyanwu, PDP National Secretary

4.     Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary

5.     The National Working Committee (NWC)

6.     The National Executive Committee (NEC)

7.     Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum

8.     Ali Odefa

9.     Emmanuel Ogidi