By Toyin Adebayo, Abuja

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for urgent government intervention and sanctions against pharmaceutical companies and individuals allegedly involved in illegal drug distribution within several Federal Health Institutions (FHIs).

In a strongly-worded statement, the National Chairman of the association, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, accused some pharmaceutical firms of operating unlawfully within public hospitals, often with the tacit approval of hospital management and regulatory agencies.

Igwekamma decried what he termed a “persistent culture of disregard for the law,” stating it is a “travesty of justice” that institutions mandated to uphold regulations have become enablers of illegal operations.

He specifically alleged that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has turned a blind eye as unregistered private pharmacy operators take over drug distribution activities in federal hospitals under questionable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

The ACPN chairman faulted the Ministry’s past experiments with models like Medipool, describing them as unlawful ventures that created significant loopholes in Nigeria’s public drug distribution system.

Violations of Statutory Frameworks

Igwekamma emphasized that the legally recognized framework for managing drug supplies in public hospitals remains the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), established under Decree 43 of 1989 (now Cap 252 LFN 2004), which legally empowers pharmacists to oversee procurement, distribution, and management.

He, however, lamented that the DRF system has been undermined by the alleged mismanagement of hospital Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs), leading to recurring drug stock-outs and unstable availability.

Citing the DRF project at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, as a success model, he noted that under pharmacists’ leadership, the department built a ₦200 million pharmacy complex in 2014 without compromising the DRF account—an achievement he claimed remains unmatched.

Catalogue of Legal Breaches

The ACPN listed numerous institutions, including the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, National Hospital Abuja, and several Federal Medical Centres, as hosting what it deems illegal PPP pharmacy models.

The association outlined multiple alleged breaches of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022, including:

· Operation of unregistered and uninspected pharmacies (Section 22(1)).
· Running private pharmacies inside public health facilities (Section 27(5)).
· Operating pharmacies not under the direct control of a superintendent pharmacist (Section 29).

Igwekamma further revealed that over 20 pharmacy premises under these PPP arrangements are unregistered, alleging that one “particularly aggressive company” in Lagos has taken over a major teaching hospital’s pharmacy unit while “dropping names of senior government officials to legitimize its activities.”

Ultimatum and Call to Action

The ACPN has issued an ultimatum to all superintendent pharmacists whose licences are being used for such arrangements to regularize their status by the end of 2025 or face disciplinary action in 2026. The association also vowed to pursue sanctions under the Consumer Protection and Trade Malpractices Act.

Reaffirming its commitment to drug security, the ACPN called for strengthened local manufacturing, transparent procurement, and the protection of DRF accounts.

The association urgently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to order, warning that the current “government-induced chaos” in drug distribution is a direct threat to public health.

“We must restore sanity, legality, and professionalism in drug distribution in the public sector,” Pharm. Ezeh declared. “The health of the Nigerian people depends on it.”

The Peoples Democratic Party was on Friday thrown into a state of disarray as a Federal High Court in Abuja halted its planned national convention, prompting an emergency meeting of the party’s top brass to strategise a response.

The development is a significant setback for the main opposition party, which is grappling with internal crises and seeking to reposition itself ahead of future elections.

A member of the PDP’s National Working Committee, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that an emergency NWC meeting had been summoned for Saturday at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

“That’s the judgment. However, I know that the NWC has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow. The leaders will review what transpired throughout the process and determine the next line of action,” the official said.

He added, “The party is set for a very serious deliberation, which will shape its next steps and provide members and Nigerians a clearer sense of direction in the coming days.”

The emergency session comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stopped the opposition party from proceeding with the convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The judge ruled that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states and also breached the law by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice Omotosho held that the party’s failure to comply with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its own constitution were “fundamental” irregularities that rendered the entire process invalid.

“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” he declared.

The judge further ruled that all convention notices must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary, adding that the signing of such documents by the chairman alone was unlawful.

Consequently, he restrained INEC from monitoring, recognising, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that did not meet these legal requirements.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary).

They had asked the court to halt the planned convention, alleging that no valid congresses were conducted in at least 14 states before the convention notice was issued.

In a significant legal point, Justice Omotosho rejected the PDP’s preliminary objection that the case was an internal affair, ruling that “compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines transcends party matters.”

PDP Vows to Appeal, Lamido Files Fresh Suit

The verdict sparked mixed reactions in the courtroom. Supporters of the plaintiffs broke into celebration, while the PDP delegation filed out in silence, their faces grim.

Addressing journalists after the proceedings, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, condemned the ruling as a setback for democracy and vowed to appeal.

“This is not what we expected. We will appeal it. You cannot stop a whole political party from exercising its legal rights. This judgment today is a panacea to annihilating democracy in this country,” he said.

In a later statement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the judgment as an “assault on Nigeria’s democratic process” but insisted the party’s lawyers had been directed to appeal immediately. He urged party members to remain focused on convention preparations.

In a separate development, a fresh suit seeking to stop the convention was filed by a former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

However, Justice Lifu declined to grant an ex parte motion, instead directing the PDP and INEC to appear in court on November 6 to show cause why the convention should not be stopped.

Analysis: A Party at a Crossroads

The court ruling exposes the deep-seated structural and internal conflicts plaguing the PDP. The party, which has been struggling to present a united front since its loss in the 2023 general elections, now finds its efforts to elect new national officers and achieve stability legally challenged.

Following the judgment, senior PDP officials called for calm, with some framing it as an opportunity for introspection.

The Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said, “It may not be the best of judgments, but it’s an opportunity to put our house in order. We’re depleted enough already and should stop entertaining divisions. We need to reflect and come out stronger.”

Another NEC member, who spoke anonymously, described the court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for reform.

The legal hurdles come amid persistent divisions within the party, particularly between allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and supporters of the acting chairman. The disagreements centre on control of party structures, zoning of national offices, and the micro-zoning formula, disputes that have festered since the 2023 polls and continue to undermine the party’s cohesion.

As the NWC meets on Saturday, its decisions will be closely watched, as they will not only determine the fate of the party’s national convention but also signal whether the main opposition party can overcome its internal crises and effectively reposition itself for the challenges ahead.

• Party vows to appeal, describes judgment as assault on democracy
• Internal crises, forgery allegations exposed in leadup to convention

The Peoples Democratic Party was thrown into crisis on Friday as a Federal High Court in Abuja halted its planned national convention, prompting an emergency meeting of the party’s National Working Committee and exposing deep-rooted internal divisions within Nigeria’s main opposition party.

The PDP has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee following Friday’s judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the party from proceeding with its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State .

A member of the NWC, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, confirmed the emergency session would hold on Saturday at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja .

“That’s the judgment. However, I know that the NWC has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow. The leaders will review what transpired throughout the process and determine the next line of action,” the official said . “The party is set for a very serious deliberation, which will shape its next steps and provide members and Nigerians a clearer sense of direction in the coming days” .

Legal Basis for the Judgment

In his ruling on suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states and breached the law by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission before convening the convention .

The judge declared that these “fundamental” irregularities rendered the entire convention process invalid . He specifically noted that convention notices must be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary, ruling that documents signed by the chairman alone were unlawful .

“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” Justice Omotosho declared . He consequently restrained INEC from “monitoring, recognising, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that did not meet the legal requirements” .

The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary) . They alleged that no valid congresses were conducted in at least 14 states before the NWC and NEC issued notice for the convention .

PDP’s Reaction and Planned Appeal

PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum strongly condemned the ruling, vowing immediate appeal . “This is not what we expected. We will appeal it. You cannot stop a whole political party from exercising its legal rights. This judgment today is a panacea to annihilating democracy in this country,” Damagum told journalists .

In a formal statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described the judgment as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process” but insisted it would not derail the party’s plans . “The judgment does not vitiate our ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards electing new national officers. Our lawyers have been directed to appeal immediately,” Ologunagba stated .

The party directed its members to continue with convention preparations despite the court order, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs .

Deep-Rooted Internal Crises

The court ruling exposes severe internal divisions that have plagued the PDP for months. The party’s internal crises include:

· Leadership Tussles: Deep divisions persist between allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and supporters of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum .
· Control of Structures: Disagreements center on control of party structures in the South-South, particularly in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau states .
· Zoning Disputes: Conflicts over the zoning of national offices and micro-zoning formula for the planned convention have remained unresolved .
· Forgery Allegations: The crisis deepened when National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu petitioned the DSS, police, and INEC over alleged forgery of his signature on convention documents .

Mixed Reactions and Additional Legal Challenge

The courtroom atmosphere was tense as the judgment was delivered, with plaintiffs’ supporters breaking into celebration while PDP members filed out grim-faced .

In a separate development, former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido filed another suit seeking to stop the convention, though Justice Peter Lifu declined to grant an ex-parte motion, instead adjourning the case to November 6 for hearing .

Prominent PDP chieftain Chief Bode George strongly criticized the ruling, describing it as “the joke of the century, open recipe for anarchy and a display of judicial brigandage” . “This judgment will consume this country. It is time the judge removed his wig and gown and joined politics,” George stated .

Opportunity for Introspection

Some party officials framed the development as a chance for internal reconciliation. Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor said: “It may not be the best of judgments, but it’s an opportunity to put our house in order. We’re depleted enough already and should stop entertaining divisions. We need to reflect and come out stronger” .

Another NEC member described the court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for reform, stating: “This is not the end of the PDP; it is the beginning of a reformed PDP. We must regroup, reconcile, and prepare for the challenges ahead” .

Contextual Analysis: A Party at Crossroads

This legal setback represents another critical challenge for the PDP, which has been struggling to regain its footing since losing power at the national level. The convention postponement threatens to further delay the party’s efforts to reorganize and present a united front ahead of future elections.

The judgment also highlights the ongoing tension between judicial oversight and political party autonomy in Nigeria’s democracy. While the court emphasized that compliance with electoral laws transcends internal party affairs, PDP leaders argue this constitutes excessive judicial interference in their operations.

As the NWC meets on Saturday, their decisions will significantly impact not only the party’s internal cohesion but also Nigeria’s broader political landscape as the nation moves closer to the next electoral cycle.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.