The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16. The court ruled that the party failed to comply with key provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines in the build‑up to the convention.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho declared that the PDP cannot proceed with the convention until it provides a proper framework for electing delegates. He stressed that the conditions for a valid national convention had not been met.
The judge noted that congresses to elect delegates were not held in several states. Where they were held, the notices were signed only by the national chairman of the party, excluding the national secretary. This, he said, was a clear breach of INEC regulations and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Omotosho also invalidated the submissions made by PDP counsel Chris Uche and Eyitayo Jegede of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party, ruling that they were not properly authorized by the party’s national legal adviser.
The judge held that it is only the National Legal Adviser that has the constitutional mandate to appoint legal representation. He explained that even though they were assigned by the national chairman, such authorization was invalid without the legal adviser’s approval.
The court further clarified that the case was not about the internal affairs of the PDP, but about compliance with electoral laws and laid down guidelines. Justice Omotosho said the suit was aimed at ensuring democratic principles are upheld in the build up to the convention, adding that adherence to INEC guidelines helps forestall impunity.
He emphasized that the PDP’s failure to issue valid postponement notices for congresses in affected states rendered the process arbitrary and invalid. As a result, the party is not entitled to hold a national convention until proper congresses are conducted in line with the law.
In addition, the court restrained INEC from accepting the results of any congress conducted in breach of electoral regulations. It directed the PDP to issue fresh notices for congresses, jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary, as required by law.
With this ruling, the PDP’s national convention has been put on hold. The party must now return to the drawing board, comply with electoral guidelines, and conduct valid congresses before it can reconvene its highest decision‑making gathering.
Godfrey Eshiomogie
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