BREAKING: Court Stops PDP Convention Again, Issues Final Order to INEC

• A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its 2025 national convention, ruling that the party breached its constitution by denying former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido the right to obtain a nomination form.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a final order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its 2025 national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The convention—initially slated for November 15 and 16 to elect new national officers—was halted after the court ruled in favour of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who claimed the party unlawfully blocked him from contesting.

Delivering judgment, Justice Lifu held that the PDP must comply strictly with its constitution and guidelines before proceeding with any national convention.

He ruled that the party must allow Lamido to purchase a nomination form for the national chairman position before any plans for the convention can resume.

The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or participating in the convention until the PDP complies fully.

Justice Lifu stated that the PDP has a legal obligation to adhere to its internal rules and provide equal opportunities for eligible members.

According to him, the party acted improperly by refusing Lamido access to the nomination forms required to pursue his ambition.

Lamido, through his lawyer Jeph Njikonye, had earlier filed an ex-parte motion on October 31 seeking an interim injunction to stop the convention. Justice Lifu initially declined the request but ordered the PDP and INEC to show cause within 72 hours. The matter was adjourned to November 6.

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Conflicting Court Orders Deepen PDP Crisis

The halted convention adds to the growing legal and political turmoil within the PDP, following multiple conflicting court orders.

On November 4, the Oyo State High Court ordered the PDP and acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to go ahead with the convention. The ruling came from Justice A. L. Akintola after an ex-parte application by Folahan Adelabi.

The contradictory rulings triggered outrage among some party leaders, particularly allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction Justice Akintola over alleged judicial misconduct.

Governors Insist Convention Must Hold

Despite the court order from Abuja, PDP governors have insisted that the 2025 national elective convention must proceed.

They made the position known following a late-night stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. In attendance were members of the National Working Committee, serving and former governors, National Assembly lawmakers, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, and state chairmen.

Saraki Proposes Caretaker Committee Instead

Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has advised the party to suspend the convention entirely and set up a caretaker committee to stabilize the PDP before reconvening.

Saraki, a former Kwara State governor, made the suggestion while receiving the PDP BoT reconciliation team.

“The only solution available to us now is for the party to set up a caretaker committee. This must be done in the next two days. It is the path to stability and the best way to reassure aspirants,” Saraki wrote on his X handle.

The PDP remains deeply divided as legal battles, internal power struggles, and conflicting judicial orders threaten to derail its plans for the 2025 convention.