The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, pending further directives.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the party must first comply with the requirements of its own constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act before holding the convention.
The ruling followed a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDPPDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The plaintiffs urged the court to stop the convention, arguing that it violated both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, as valid state congresses had not been conducted prior to the planned event.
The defendants in the case include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that the PDP failed to adhere to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC’s guidelines, and its own internal regulations.
“The party must go back and put its house in order and issue the statutory 21-day notice to INEC before proceeding with any convention,” the judge stated.
Read Also;
Ex-Senate chief whip quits PDP
The court also restrained INEC from recognising or accepting the outcome of any PDP convention not conducted in line with due process, the law, and the commission’s guidelines.
Justice Omotosho further dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objections, which claimed the matter was an internal party affair, affirming that the court had the jurisdiction to intervene where there was clear evidence of legal and constitutional breaches.
