PDP Panics as Court Fixes Date to Rule on Suit Seeking to Stop National Convention

• The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31 for judgment in a suit filed by three PDP members seeking to stop the party’s upcoming national convention over alleged breaches of its constitution

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31, 2025, for judgment in a suit seeking to halt the planned People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention over alleged violations of the party’s internal rules and the Electoral Act 2022.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date on Tuesday after hearing final arguments from counsel representing both parties in the case filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).

The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the party’s scheduled November 15–16, 2025 convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected, alleging breaches of the PDP Constitution and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

The nine defendants in the case are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organizing Secretary), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum (Acting National Chairman), Ali Odefa, Emmanuel Ogidi, and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).

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Justice Omotosho reaffirmed his earlier order for all parties to maintain status quo pending judgment, warning that any action taken in defiance of the court could be declared null and void.

Arguing for the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN) urged the court not to dismiss the matter as an internal party issue, insisting it was an effort to uphold the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution. He maintained that INEC must monitor political party congresses before they can be deemed valid.

Daudu said no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP’s NWC and NEC issued notices for the upcoming convention.

However, Paul Erokoro (SAN), representing Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), counsel to the NWC and NEC, both urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that convention and congress matters fall strictly within the internal affairs of the party.

Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case for judgment on October 31, 2025.