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.
