PDP Hopes as Court Delay in Sule Lamido Case Leaves Fate Undecided

The Federal High Court in Abuja was unable to announce a ruling on Thursday in a case brought by the former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lami...

The Federal High Court in Abuja was unable to announce a ruling on Thursday in a case brought by the former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, who aims to prevent the 2025 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) set for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Tribune OnlinePreviously reported that the trial Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, set Thursday for the verdict following the submission of written arguments by the parties in the case titled FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, after hearing legal opinions from senior lawyers on whether Lamido had exhausted the party's internal procedures before seeking court intervention and whether the matter before the court constitutes an internal party affair.

On Thursday morning, when the parties appeared in court for the ruling, the court clerk stated that the court's decision regarding the case was not yet finalized and informed the parties that they would be notified once it became available.

The former governor became the first defendant in the lawsuit, with the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the second defendant, as filed by his lawyer, Jeph Njikonye, SAN. Later, the court added Hon Austine Nwachukwu, chairman of the Imo PDP; Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna, chairman of the Abia PDP; and Hon Turnah George, who was reportedly the PDP Secretary for the South-South Geo-Political Zone, as relevant parties in the case.

Remember that earlier in the proceedings on Tuesday, the court issued a temporary order preventing the PDP from conducting its 2025 National Convention and prohibited INEC from overseeing, monitoring, or acknowledging the results of the National Convention where national leaders are set to be chosen, until the case filed by Lamido is heard and resolved.

Justice Lifu issued a new order while deciding on a motion filed by the former governor against the PDP, stating that the party prevented him from purchasing the chairmanship nomination form to allow his participation in the convention.

The judge issued the restriction order against PDP, citing the party's refusal, neglect, and failure to adhere to applicable regulations and legal requirements for organizing such events.

The judge determined that Lamido's evidence indicated the schedule for the convention was not made available to its members as mandated by law, and concluded that the overall balance of convenience favored Lamido since he would face greater harm if unlawfully prevented from attending the scheduled convention.

To create a cure, the Judge stated, the former governor agreed to compensate the PDP if his legal action was deemed without merit.

He further stated that in accordance with section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, the court of law should not shirk its duty of delivering justice impartially and emphasized that chaos would prevail wherever the court of record fails to carry out its constitutionally mandated responsibilities.

In his last statement, the Judge prevented PDP from holding the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, or any other date in Ibadan or elsewhere, and also halted INEC from overseeing, observing, or acknowledging the results of any convention organized by PDP.

Meanwhile, another judge from the same court, James Omotosho, issued comparable orders on October 31, preventing INEC from overseeing or acknowledging the results of the PDP convention if it proceeded, as due process was not adhered to in the planning of the convention.

Omotosho argued that the PDP did not provide the required 21-day notice for meetings and congresses, preventing INEC from fulfilling its legal responsibility to oversee these events. Additionally, he stated that the PDP's non-compliance with the law has threatened the upcoming convention and recommended that the PDP take the necessary steps before proceeding with the election.

As a result, he prevented INEC from accepting, releasing, or acknowledging the results of the convention scheduled for Ibadan, until the law is adhered to.

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