Baba Martins
A High Court in Oyo State has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go ahead with the National Convention scheduled for Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of November, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
The Presiding Judge, Justice A L Akintola in an Interim Order delivered on Monday, 3rd November 2025 ordered the PDP to conduct its National Convention and elect new national officers as contained in its already approved guidelines, timetable and scheduled of activities pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice before him.
The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor and or observe the Elective National Convention of the PDP as scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State on the 15th and 16th of November 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The plaintiff, Mr. Folahan Malomo Adelabi, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Organizing Secretary in Suit No 1/1336 /2025 prayed the Court to among other things order the PDP to conduct the Elective National Convention as scheduled, party having met the statutory requirements for the exercise.
The Suit has the PDP, its National Chairman (for himself and the members of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee of the party), Rt. Hon. Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri (for himself and members of the PDP National Convention Organizing Committee and INEC as 1st to 4th Defendant respectively.
Ruling, Justice Akintola held “having carefully considered the claimants/applicant’s motion Ex-parte together with the affidavit in support as well as the written address of counsel, this court is satisfied that the claimant/applicant has successfully made out a case for the urgent intervention of this court at this stage.
“As a demonstration of sincerity and transparency, the claimant/applicant has also caused to be filed the motion on notice for orders of interlocutory injunctions in this case. Accordingly, this court finds merit in the Claimant/ Applicant’s Motion Ex-Parte. The same succeeds and it hereby ordered as prayed on the Claimant/ Applicant’s Motion Ex-Parte dated 3rd November 2025 and filed on the same date in this case.
Further ruling the Court held that “for the avoidance of doubt, the interim Orders of Injunction sought are hereby granted as prayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Orders of Interlocutory Injunctions already filed in this case”
Consequently, the Court ordered the PDP National Working Committee, National Executive Committee and National Convention Organizing Committee to “honour the provision of the aforesaid Guidelines, Timetable and Schedule Activities for the conduct of the PDP National Convention pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the PDP from holding the convention.
Justice James Omotosho had ruled that the convention must be suspended until the party aligned its preparations with the PDP Constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The suit was filed by three PDP officials — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah Alabah George (South-South Zonal Secretary) — who argued that preparations for the convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules.
Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing notice for the convention, thereby breaching its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC guidelines by neglecting to give the required 21-day notice to the electoral umpire.
Following the judgment, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, National Chairman, convened an emergency NWC meeting and announced a one-month suspension of four members loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Those suspended were National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
Addressing journalists after the meeting at Legacy House, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the decision followed a review of the conduct of some NWC members, which the committee described as gross indiscipline.
He also announced that Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, would act as National Secretary pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, while the Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, would oversee the legal department in the interim.
Counter-Suspension
In a counter-move, the suspended members loyal to Wike, led by Anyanwu, also met and announced the suspension of Damagum and five other national officers.
Anyanwu said the decision was taken “to save the party from collapse” and restore credibility to its leadership.
He declared that Damagum was suspended “for incompetence, mismanagement of party funds, and alleged disobedience to court orders.”
He also named the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman in Damagum’s place.
Others he announced as suspended for “complicity in anti-party activities, financial misconduct, and dereliction of duty” were Ologunagba, National Deputy Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.
