Efforts for Saturday's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national election convention are intensifying, even with contradictory court decis...
Efforts for Saturday's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national election convention are intensifying, even with contradictory court decisions regarding the event's legality.
This follows the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan extending its temporary order yesterday, which prevents any disruption of the party's convention set to take place in Ibadan, the state's capital, on Saturday.
The court scheduled Friday for the hearing of the main case.
Surveys conducted by the leadership indicated that party officials and delegates have already reached the capital of Oyo State for the convention, which will also select new national leadership for the party.
The National Secretary of the convention, Senator Ben Obi, heads of the sub-committees, and party officials were observed examining the location for the event — the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Meanwhile, representatives for the national convention are anticipated to reach the state capital starting on Friday.
Remember that two court decisions, submitted by a group headed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and founding PDP member, Sule Lamido, challenged the organization of the convention via legal means.
Two Abuja High Courts have approved the requests of Wike and Lamido, submitted individually, to prevent the party's event from taking place as planned.
Nevertheless, an Ibadan State Court has permitted the party to proceed with the convention.
The legal conflict comes after a prolonged struggle for the party's identity before the 2027 election, leading to a divided National Working Committee (NWC) and the formation of a newly recognized Board of Trustees (BoT).
The conflict primarily involves the faction led by Amb. Illiya Damagum, supported by the party's governors, and the Wike group, which has now expressed backing for the APC's Bola Tinubu's goal of a second term.
No Turning Back from the Convention - Damagum's Group
The PDP, led by Ambassador Illiya Damagum, announced earlier yesterday that it would proceed with the national convention as scheduled on 15 November.
The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, who also holds the position of Secretary for the Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee of the convention, made this statement following a new High Court decision in Abuja that halted the meeting.
The message stated: "The National Working Committee (NWC) and the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notify all party members and the public that the 2025 National Convention of the PDP has not been delayed but will take place as planned from Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November, 2025, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State."
The NWC and the NCOC call on party members and all Nigerians to ignore false statements being spread by certain individuals, who have been found to have been hired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a failed effort to disrupt the PDP National Convention.
We know about the schemes of the APC to disrupt the opposition and enforce a one-party system in the nation — a plan that will be legally opposed.
The NCOC and the party will keep working diligently, 24/7, to guarantee a successful national convention in Ibadan as planned.
Expressing gratitude to Nigerians for their strong backing of our party, the NCOC extends a warm welcome to all delegates, party leaders, officials, and supporters of the PDP who have begun to arrive in Ibadan for the national convention.
Once more, the Ibadan Court extends the directive for the convention to take place
In his decision, the presiding judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola, directed that the temporary order from the claimant/applicant's ex-parte application remain in effect until the main case is resolved.
The court, in its decision regarding the ex-parte motion, previously directed the Peoples Democratic Party to carry out its national convention as planned in Ibadan on Saturday.
The applicant had requested the court to issue an order preventing the defendants—namely, the national chairman Umar Illiya Damagum; the governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri (on his own behalf and for members of the National Convention Organising Committee); and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or their representatives—from interrupting or hindering the holding of the party's planned national convention.
The court further instructed the PDP leadership to follow closely the guidelines, timeline, and activity schedule previously announced for the convention.
However, Justice Akintola stated: "After hearing the arguments from both sides, the case has been postponed until tomorrow (Friday) for further consideration."
The judge, while also addressing the request for joining another party in the same matter, stated that this request could not be approved because it was not signed by the person involved.
However, the lead counsel for the defendant, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Emmanuel Ukala, contended that the matter of authorship was without substance, as the author or deponent was clearly identified, asserting that it was not a complete lack of signature.
The sitting judge, nevertheless, stated that the request might be submitted again.
During a sideline interview, lead counsel Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) stated: "We were preparing to submit the application for joining the case, but the Court found that the affidavit had not been signed."
Regarding the temporary injunction, he stated that the order would remain in effect as instructed by the court.
Remember that the PDP chairman in Oyo State, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro, stated on Tuesday that the Abuja Federal High Court's decision regarding the party's national convention scheduled for Ibadan was not a danger.
Responding to the Abuja Court's decision halting the convention, Ogungbenro stated:
Nothing can hinder our convention. We are getting ready for the event and we will proceed with it. Nothing will be able to stop it, thanks to God's blessings.
The Abuja Federal High Court, on Tuesday, halted the PDP's planned national convention until the outcome of a legal case initiated by former Jigawa State Governor, Mr. Sule Lamido, is decided.
In his decision, Justice Peter Lifu further prohibited INEC from overseeing, managing, or validating the results of the convention until the case is heard and resolved by him.
Justice Lifu ruled that the petition submitted by Sule Lamido was valid and therefore was successful.
Lifu specifically highlighted the ruling made by Justice James Omotosho on 31 October, which halted the PDP from conducting the convention, and also stated that it would be in the best interest of justice to approve Lamido's petition.
Nevertheless, an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, on Monday, by means of Justice Ladiran Akintola, once more postponed the consideration of a Motion on Notice in the case initiated by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its acting national president, and other involved parties.
The case, which has drawn increasing political interest before the party's national convention, will proceed on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, after the court granted all parties additional time to submit and share required procedures.
Justice Akintola, following the presentation of arguments from attorneys for both parties, emphasized the need to submit all necessary paperwork correctly before any actual hearings could take place.
The judge stated that the postponement was required to allow the court to handle all outstanding requests simultaneously for an efficient proceeding.
Ogungbenro, highlighting that the Oyo State High Court had directed the party to continue with the national convention, stated: "This is not Abuja; this is Oyo, where all activities are happening."
On whether this would avoid long-term legal battles, he stated, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves; when the time comes, we'll deal with it then."
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