Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, October 31, stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned 2025 National Convention.
The court ruled that the party must first comply with the provisions of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act before proceeding with the exercise.
In his judgement, Justice Omotosho also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any report or outcome from the convention unless due process is followed in line with the law and INEC’s own guidelines.
The judge stated that INEC “is not entitled to give effect to a convention of any party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act, and the guidelines or regulations of political parties.”
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The ruling followed a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP, who sought to stop the scheduled November 15–16, 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers were expected to be elected.
The plaintiffs argued that the planned convention violated the PDP’s constitution.
The defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.