For the second time, the Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its National Convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the planned convention, where new national officers were expected to be elected.
The order followed an application by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, who told the court that he was unlawfully prevented from purchasing the chairmanship nomination form, thereby excluding him from participating in the convention.
Justice Lifu held that the PDP had “refused, neglected, and failed” to comply with the legal requirements governing the conduct of party conventions.
He said evidence presented by Lamido showed that the party did not publish the timetable for the convention as mandated by law, thereby violating members’ right to fair participation.
According to the judge, the balance of convenience was clearly in Lamido’s favour, noting that he would suffer greater injustice if the convention proceeded without giving him lawful opportunity to contest.
He stressed that due process must be strictly observed in any constitutional democracy, warning that failure to do so undermines democratic institutions.
Citing Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, Justice Lifu emphasized that courts must not abandon their responsibility to dispense justice “without fear or favour.”
“Anarchy would be the order of the day whenever a court of record abdicates its constitutionally assigned functions,” he warned.
In his final orders, Justice Lifu restrained the PDP from holding the convention on November 15 and 16 or on any other date, whether in Ibadan or elsewhere.
He also barred INEC from supervising, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of any convention conducted by the PDP while the matter remains unresolved.
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