The Peoples Democratic Party has directed its members nationwide to begin preparations for its forthcoming national convention, as it announced plans to challenge the court judgment that halted the scheduled convention at the Court of Appeal.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement issued on Friday, described the judgment as a direct assault on the party’s internal democracy.
Recall that despite the plan to hold its National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal tension continues to grip the party. Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
Their grievances centre on lingering disputes over the South-South zonal leadership, control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and other states, as well as disagreements concerning the micro-zoning arrangement for the forthcoming convention.
The internal crisis ultimately escalated into a legal confrontation seeking to stop the convention.
As a result, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday issued an order preventing the PDP from going ahead with its scheduled convention in Ibadan until further notice.
In his ruling on the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho directed that the event be suspended until the party complies with the provisions of its constitution, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, and the Electoral Act, 2022.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The plaintiffs asked the court to stop the PDP’s planned 2025 national convention in Ibadan, where new national officers were to be elected, alleging that the convention violated the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules.
They argued that no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee issued notice for the convention.
The nine defendants in the suit are: the Independent National Electoral Commission, the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), the NWC, the NEC, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
