Just In: Court Stops 2025 PDP’s National Convention

By Ranti Thomas

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to comply with its statutory requirements, party constitution, and the provisions of the Electoral Act before proceeding with any national convention.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or accepting any report from such a convention unless due process is strictly followed.

Defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary of the party), Umar Bature (National Organizing Secretary), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP. Others are Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

In a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that INEC is not entitled to give effect to any convention or congress conducted by a political party that fails to comply with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and the party’s internal guidelines and regulations.

The judge emphasized that adherence to due process is not optional but a mandatory requirement for the conduct of any political party’s convention, adding that INEC must not recognize any activity carried out in violation of the law or the party’s constitution. He stated that allowing otherwise would undermine the rule of law and internal democracy within political parties.

Justice Omotosho also dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defendants, who argued that the matter was an internal affair of the PDP and therefore outside the court’s jurisdiction. The court held that since the issue involved compliance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution, it was within its powers to entertain the case.

The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s plans to conduct its next national convention, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, as the party must now ensure that all statutory and legal requirements are met before proceeding.