The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from proceeding with its planned national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
In a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court upheld a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP who accused the party of violating its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Omotosho ruled that the evidence presented before the court proved that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses before scheduling its national convention to elect new national officers.
The court therefore directed the party to “go back and put its house in order” and to issue the mandatory 21-day statutory notice before rescheduling the convention.
The suit — marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 — was filed by Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South). The plaintiffs had sought to stop the planned convention, arguing that it violated key procedural requirements.
Those cited as defendants included the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Baturrle (National Organising Secretary), Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi (national officers), along with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objections, which argued that the matter was an internal party issue beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The judge held that since the PDP failed to follow due process, the matter was within the scope of judicial scrutiny.
