PDP convention holds amid legal battles, factional tensions in Ibadan

The atmosphere around the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan was charged with activity on Saturday morning as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepared to hold its national convention.

According to our correspondent, Bukola Oriowo, the stadium and its surroundings were bustling as the convention planning committee put final measures in place to manage the large turnout expected at the event.

Traffic was being redirected from the main gate to alternative routes to ease movement, while members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) worked with government officials to organise taxis and motorcycles for delegates and guests.

Security was also tightened at the venue, with multiple law enforcement agencies deployed to maintain order.

Delegates began arriving from Friday, filling hotels across the city to capacity.

Activities leading up to the convention extended to the Government House, where meetings and final strategy sessions were held to ensure a smooth and successful gathering.

Despite the excitement, the national convention is taking place against the backdrop of internal disputes within the PDP.

Loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, have insisted that issues such as the conduct of congresses must be settled first.

This has deepened the factional divide between two groups led by Ambassador Umar Damagum and Abdulrahman Muhammed.

While the Damagum camp pushed ahead with the convention, the Abdulrahman faction announced its cancellation, citing a ruling of the Abuja Federal High Court.

However, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) maintained that the event must go ahead, despite an order by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the Ibadan convention.

After that ruling, the Oyo State High Court sat on Friday to hear arguments on a preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction in a suit filed by a party member, Folahan Adelabi.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), O. Adeyemi, argued that INEC, being a Federal Government agency, could only be sued in the Federal High Court and urged the court to strike out the matter.

But claimant’s counsel, Musibau Adetumbi, SAN, opposed this, insisting the objection violated the claimant’s fundamental rights to assembly and participation in party activities.

He cited Section 251 of the Constitution to argue that INEC did not fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in this instance.

After hearing both sides, Justice Ladiran Akintola adjourned the ruling to December 8, 2025. He also reaffirmed that the interim order preventing any disruption or interference with the PDP convention preparations remained valid.

The defendants in the suit include the PDP, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who chairs the PDP Convention Organising Committee, and INEC.

Earlier, the same court had extended its interim order to ensure that the convention proceeds without obstruction.

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