BREAKING: Court stops PDP from holding planned National Convention in Ibadan

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, next month.

Justice James Omotosho issued the order while ruling on a suit seeking to determine whether the opposition party could hold its convention slated for November 15 and 16.

The case was filed by three PDP officials, Austine Nwachukwu, the Imo State chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State chairman; and Turnah George, the South-South secretary, all believed to be allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, a vocal critic of the exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC) were listed as defendants in the suit.

The plaintiffs asked the court to halt the convention, arguing that the party breached both its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act in preparations for the event.

Their lawyer told the court that no congresses were held in 14 states, stressing that the issue before the court was not an internal party matter but one involving clear legal violations.

However, the PDP maintained that the suit concerns its internal affairs and therefore lies outside the jurisdiction of the court.

The party also accused the plaintiffs of attempting to derail its transition process.

The controversy surrounding the planned convention has been deepened by other internal disputes.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of Wike, recently petitioned security agencies, claiming his signature was forged on documents submitted to INEC regarding the convention.

The party’s NWC and Board of Trustees (BoT) have dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Meanwhile, the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) had earlier suspended the screening of aspirants scheduled for October 28, citing “unforeseen circumstances.”

Many observers believe the postponement was linked to the court case, as the PDP awaited a ruling before continuing preparations.

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