The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31, 2025, for judgment in a suit seeking to stop the planned National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and internal rules.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Tuesday after taking final arguments from counsel representing all parties in the case filed by three aggrieved PDP members: Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The plaintiffs are asking the court to halt the National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected, citing breaches of due process and the PDP constitution.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Omotosho reiterated his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
He warned that the court would not hesitate to nullify any actions taken in defiance of the subsisting order.Arguing for the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN) urged the court not to dismiss the matter as a mere internal party dispute but to view it as a constitutional issue.
He submitted that the plaintiffs were seeking to enforce compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the PDP Constitution, adding that INEC is constitutionally required to monitor valid party congresses before any convention can be deemed lawful.
According to Daudu, no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee issued notices for the November convention.
However, counsel to the acting National Chairman, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that the issues raised were internal affairs of the party. His submission was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who represented the PDP’s NWC and NEC, maintaining that courts lack the power to interfere in a party’s internal administrative matters.
Justice Omotosho thereafter reserved judgment for October 31, 2025.
