Court Stops 2025 PDP’s National Convention

Court Halts 2025 PDP National Convention Amid Legal Dispute

In a significant development within Nigeria’s political landscape, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling halting the 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decision, delivered by Justice James Omotosho on October 31, 2025, stems from a legal challenge brought forth by three aggrieved members of the party. 

These plaintiffs contested the legitimacy of the planned convention, originally scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers were to be elected.

The crux of the court’s decision lies in the assertion that the PDP failed to comply with the statutory requirements outlined in its own constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act. 

Justice Omotosho emphasized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not authorized to recognize or act upon the outcome of any party convention that does not adhere strictly to these legal frameworks and the internal guidelines and regulations of the political party.

The court’s ruling effectively restrains the PDP from proceeding with the convention until all procedural and constitutional discrepancies are addressed.

Furthermore, INEC has been barred from accepting or validating any reports or outcomes from a convention that does not meet the stipulated legal standards.

The lawsuit named nine defendants, including INEC, the PDP itself, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other key figures such as Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

In response to the ruling, the PDP has publicly rejected the court’s decision. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement asserting that the judgment does not impede the party’s preparations for the convention. He described the verdict as an affront to Nigeria’s democratic process and reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to conducting its internal affairs in line with democratic principles.

Ologunagba further cited a recent Supreme Court judgment that reinforced the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal operations. He urged party members, chapters, and organs to remain focused and continue preparations for the convention.

Simultaneously, the PDP has instructed its legal team to file an appeal against the Federal High Court’s ruling, signaling its intent to challenge the decision through the judicial process.

This legal tussle has sparked divergent reactions within the party and the broader political community. While some stakeholders, such as former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, welcomed the court’s intervention as a necessary check against internal impunity, others view it as a politically motivated attempt to destabilize the party ahead of a crucial leadership transition.

As the PDP navigates this legal and political impasse, the outcome of the appeal and the party’s next steps will be closely watched, not only by its members but also by the broader Nigerian electorate. 

The situation underscores the ongoing tensions within the PDP and the broader challenges facing internal party democracy in Nigeria.