Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has suspended four of its national officers after a court order stopped it from proceeding with its planned national convention.
Those affected include National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Saturday at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja. He said the suspension would last 30 days pending disciplinary proceedings.
Ologunagba explained that the NWC acted in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution.
He said Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, will serve as acting National Secretary, while the National Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, will oversee the legal department.
“Anybody who breaches the party’s constitution or acts in a way that brings the party to disrepute will face sanctions,” Ologunagba said, noting that the suspended officials would cease to perform their functions during the suspension period.
The decision follows months of internal tension over leadership control, zoning arrangements, and the upcoming national convention originally scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan.
Court Order Halts Convention
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the PDP from proceeding with the convention after ruling in favour of three aggrieved members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (South-South PDP secretary).
Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states and did not issue the required 21-day notice to INEC as stipulated by law.
He ruled that the PDP violated its constitution, the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 by failing to meet internal and legal requirements. The judge therefore ordered that the convention be suspended until all irregularities are corrected.
The ruling comes amid growing friction between loyalists of Nyesom Wike and the camp of acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
Disputes over zonal leadership, control of state structures, and micro-zoning of party positions continue to divide the PDP across Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau.
Many party members fear the legal battle could deepen the cracks within the opposition, already weakened since losing power in 2015. Others say they’re fighting for the soul of the party to retrieve it from the hands surreptitiously working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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