It was an anticlimax on Friday as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja stopped Nigeria’s major opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from going ahead with its National Convention to pick its new national officers.
Scheduled to hold in Ibadan the Oyo State capital between Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16, 2025, the Lekan Salami Stadium was almost set for the event while delegates had started arriving Ibadan from across the country.
There had been conflicting court orders on the convention until Friday when Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, issued a final order stopping the convention.
In his final judgment delivered Friday afternoon in a suit filed by a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, the judge barred the PDP from proceeding with the national convention until it complies with its constitution and guidelines on the convention.
As requested by Tribune, he ordered that the Ibadan PDP convention must be put on hold until Sule Lamido is allowed to purchase a nomination form for the office of the national chairmanship of the party.
Also, the Judge prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring or aiding the Ibadan convention until the former Jigawa State Governor is allowed to participate in the convention.
The judge held that the PDP is under strict obligation to adhere to its own rules and regulations by giving opportunities to eligible members to realize their aspirations.
He said it was wrong of the PDP to have denied Lamido the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the office of the national chairman of the party.
Justice Lifu said the PDP is crystal clear of utter breach of its own constitution and guidelines by denying some members the opportunity to access the nomination form for elective offices at the convention.
An indication that the convention may suffer legal setback first emerged on October 31 when Justice James Omotosho restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the forthcoming 2025 national convention of the PDP.
Justice James Omotosho had issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit challenging the legality of the convention.
The judge had predicated the court decision on the grounds that the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
The judge held that evidence provided by the electoral umpire and some of the respondents showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation in breach of the law.
In addition, the court held that the signing of notices and correspondences of the PDP by its National Chairman without the National Secretary violated the law and consequently made such notices and correspondences a nullity.
Besides, Justice Omotosho had held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.
Justice Omotosho held that the failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy, and subsequently advised the PDP to do the necessary before going ahead with the election.
Three aggrieved members of the party who instituted the case are Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 was instituted on their behalf by Joseph Daudu, SAN
PDP suffered the second death blow on November 11, when Justice Lifu issued an order of interim injunction which restrained it from holding its 2025 national convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State between November 15 and 16.
The court had also barred INEC from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing the outcome of the national convention where national officers are expected to be elected.
Justice Lifu had issued the second order while delivering ruling in an application brought by a former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido.
Lamido had dragged the party before the court complaining that he was denied the opportunity to buy the Chairmanship nomination form to enable him participate in the convention.
The judge predicated the restriction order against PDP on the grounds that the party refused, neglected and failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
The judge held that evidence from Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members as required by law.
Justice Lifu also held that the balance of convenience tilted towards Lamido because he would suffer more if allowed to be unlawfully excluded from the planned convention.
To make remedy, the Judge said that the former governor had undertaken to pay damages to PDP in the event that his suit was found to be frivolous.
According to the Judge, due process of law must be strictly followed by those in charge, adding that to do otherwise, will endanger democracy itself and added that in line with section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, a court of law must not abdicate its role of dispensing justice without fear or favour.
Justice Lifu had held that anarchy would be the order of the day any time, any day and anywhere the court abdicates its constitutionally assigned functions.
Tribune
