A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, next month.
Justice James Omotosho granted the order in a suit filed to determine whether the party may proceed with the convention scheduled for November 15–16.
The suit was brought by three PDP officials — Austine Nwachukwu (Imo State chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State chairman) and Turnah George (South-South secretary). Named as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The plaintiffs, reported to be aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, argued the party failed to follow its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act in the lead-up to the convention, alleging that “no congress was conducted in 14 states.” Their counsel said the issues raised are legal questions for the court, not merely internal party matters.
The PDP countered that the dispute concerns its internal affairs and is therefore outside the court’s jurisdiction, accusing the claimants of trying to destabilise a legitimate leadership transition.
The case follows other internal tensions within the party. National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu — himself viewed as an ally of Wike — recently alleged that his signature was forged on documents sent to INEC notifying it of the convention; the NWC and Board of Trustees have dismissed the allegation as baseless. Separately, the National Convention Organising Committee indefinitely postponed the screening of aspirants that had been set for October 28, a move observers linked to the party’s decision to await the court’s ruling.
