The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, pending compliance with constitutional and electoral requirements.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the convention be suspended until the party meets the statutory conditions set out in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, and the PDP constitution.
The ruling followed a suit filed by three aggrieved party officials, Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), who challenged the legality of the proposed convention.
The plaintiffs argued that the event, at which new national officers were to be elected, contravened both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules, alleging that valid state congresses were not conducted ahead of the planned national convention.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and several top party officials, including Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), and Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, were listed among the nine defendants in the case.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP had failed to comply with the provisions of the law and its own constitution.
“The PDP must go back and put its house in order,” the judge said, directing the party to “give the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before proceeding with the proposed convention.”
The court also restrained INEC from recognising or giving effect to the outcome of any PDP convention conducted in violation of due process, the Electoral Act, or INEC’s regulations.
Justice Omotosho further dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defendants, who argued that the case was an internal party matter, affirming that the court had jurisdiction since the issues involved alleged violations of national electoral laws.
According to the court, “INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that fails to comply with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines”.
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