By Rejoice Peterside
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho held that the PDP failed to comply with provisions of its constitution and relevant electoral laws guiding the conduct of party congresses and conventions.
The court found that congresses were not conducted in several states across the federation, in violation of the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal guidelines.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the signing of official party correspondences and notices solely by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, without the signature of the National Secretary, describing such action as unlawful and rendering the affected documents invalid.
According to the judge, the party further breached the law by failing to give INEC the mandatory 21 days’ notice before holding congresses and meetings, a requirement meant to allow the electoral body to monitor internal party processes.
“The failure of the PDP to comply with these statutory and constitutional provisions has put the planned national convention in jeopardy,” Justice Omotosho ruled, advising the party to regularise its internal processes before proceeding with the exercise.
Consequently, the court restrained INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognising the outcome of the proposed convention until due compliance with the law is achieved.
The judgment followed a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, Chairman of Imo PDP; Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, South-South PDP Secretary who accused the national leadership of violating party procedures and sidelining key organs in decision-making.
The plaintiffs argued that the actions of the National Chairman had deepened the crisis within the opposition party and could render the outcome of the planned convention illegal if allowed to proceed.
Justice Omotosho agreed with the plaintiffs and ruled that the PDP must adhere strictly to its constitution before convening any convention.
As of press time, neither the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) nor INEC had issued an official reaction to the judgement
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