A Federal High Court in Abuja has once again stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its planned National Convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu issued a fresh restraining order against the opposition party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stopping the electoral body from supervising, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the planned convention.
The decision followed a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who accused the PDP leadership of denying him the right to contest for the party’s national chairmanship position by refusing to sell him a nomination form.
Justice Lifu held that the restriction became necessary because the party “refused, neglected, and failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws” guiding the conduct of such conventions.
The court found merit in Lamido’s complaint, ruling that the PDP failed to publish its timetable as required by law.
He stressed that due process must be followed in all constitutional matters, warning that any deviation from the rule of law could “endanger democracy itself.”
Justice Lifu further noted that, in line with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, the judiciary must not abandon its duty to dispense justice “without fear or favour.”
In his final order, Justice Lifu restrained the PDP from proceeding with the Ibadan convention or holding it elsewhere, and barred INEC from recognising or monitoring any convention organised by the party under the current circumstances.
Last week, the High Court sitting in Oyo State earlier ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 in Ibadan, the state capital.
Justice A. L. Akintola, the presiding judge, gave the order on Monday after hearing an ex parte application filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi.
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has faced months of internal wrangling and leadership disputes, with several members demanding a convention to elect new national officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had taken a dramatic turn as a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, alongside five other top officials.
The development, which further exposes the widening cracks within the opposition party, is reportedly linked to the lingering power tussle involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other key figures in the PDP leadership.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who spoke on behalf of the factional NWC, had declared the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the new Acting National Chairman.
He stated, “Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.”
Anyanwu further announced the suspension of other senior officials, citing indiscipline and alleged financial infractions.
“Secondly, we also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.”
The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, was also accused of financial misconduct and placed on suspension.
“The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.”
Concluding the briefing, Anyanwu formally announced the replacement of Damagum with Abdulrahman.
