The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31, 2025, for judgment in a suit seeking to stop the forthcoming National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The suit, filed by three aggrieved members of the party, accuses its leadership of violating the party’s own constitution in preparing for the convention.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both sides.
“This court will not hesitate to nullify any act done in defiance of its earlier order,” he warned, reaffirming his previous directive that all parties must maintain the status quo until judgment is delivered.
The case was instituted by Austin Nwachukwu, chairman of Imo PDP; Amah Abraham Nnanna, chairman of Abia PDP; and Turnah Alabh George, PDP secretary for the South-South zone.
They are asking the court to halt the planned National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers of the party are expected to be elected.
INEC, PDP, and Party Leaders Named as Defendants
The nine defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
Also listed are Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
At the hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to treat the case not as a mere party affair but as a constitutional matter.
He argued that “the PDP cannot proceed with its convention when the foundational processes—state congresses—were not lawfully conducted.”
According to him, the plaintiffs’ contention is that no valid congresses were held in 14 states before the party’s NWC and NEC issued the notice for the Ibadan convention.
Daudu said this violated both the PDP constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022, which require INEC to monitor internal elections of political parties for legitimacy.
Defendants Argue It’s an Internal Party Issue
However, counsel to the acting National Chairman, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction, insisting that issues relating to party conventions are strictly internal. “The court should not interfere in the internal management of a political association,” he said.
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who represented the NWC and NEC, supported this position, adding that the PDP constitution grants internal organs the autonomy to handle their own affairs without judicial intrusion.
Justice Omotosho, after listening to both arguments, fixed October 31 for judgment. His final ruling will determine whether the PDP can go ahead with its planned national convention in Ibadan or be forced to suspend it pending further compliance with internal and national electoral laws.
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