₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed its earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, on Thursday, held that the previous order remains valid and must not be violated by any party pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Omotosho warned that any attempt to take actions capable of undermining the court’s authority or rendering its eventual decision ineffective would attract consequential sanctions.

The warning followed a complaint by PDP’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who told the court that his client was restrained by the subsisting order and therefore sought an expedited hearing.

In response, the judge assured all parties that judgment in the case would be delivered before the end of October, stressing that no party would be permitted to employ delay tactics.

“You and I, as lawyers and ministers in the temple of justice, know that once a suit has been filed and parties have been served, the law is that no further step should be taken concerning the subject matter. The court must not be overreached,” Omotosho said.

He added,“Where any party violates this principle, the court has the power to issue consequential orders nullifying such acts. Let us all respect the law; it is in our collective interest. I assure you that judgment will be delivered before the end of October, and copies will be made available immediately.”

The court fixed Monday, October 20, for the definite hearing of the originating summons filed by three aggrieved PDP members against the Independent National Electoral Commission and eight others.

The plaintiffs are Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South).

They are seeking to stop the party’s planned national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are to be elected.

Listed as defendants in the suit are INEC, the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee of the party.

At the last sitting, the court joined Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th to 9th defendants, following a successful application for joinder.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, the plaintiffs are seeking declarations and injunctive orders compelling the PDP to adhere strictly to democratic principles in the conduct of its congresses, conventions, and internal elections.

They contend that the party failed to hold the required congresses to elect delegates for the planned convention, thereby invalidating any notice issued to INEC.

The plaintiffs also asked the court to restrain INEC from recognising or giving effect to any notice or outcome of the PDP convention unless it is conducted in full compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

They further seek orders restraining the PDP and its officials from holding any National Executive Committee, National Caucus, or Working Committee meetings without due notice from the National Secretary.

Justice Omotosho directed all parties to exchange their processes by October 17 to ensure a smooth hearing.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the PDP was represented by Chief Chris Uche (SAN) and the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN). The judge, however, directed both lawyers to file formal papers to enable the court to determine the party’s proper legal representative in the case.

AMINDA:
Nigeria's democracy has never found itself in its current state, just because one man is scared of facing opponents in an election. It is things like this that make the rumours of a coup very popular among the populace.

AMINDA:
Nigeria's democracy has never found itself in its current state, just because one man is scared of facing opponents in an election. It is things like this that make the rumours of a coup very popular among the populace.

Putindbutt:
I have never seen a party as useless as PDP in my life. The Chairman and Legal adviser dragging themselves to court . This is a joke.
Damagun appointed another legal adviser

Fergie001

fergie001:
James Omotosho, we know him nah 😂

runningriot:
Are you really conversant and accustomed to Nigerian politics? You should be objective the party is not useless it is only one and only person holding the party to ransom and it is Wike with this woke and outright miscarriage of justice delivered by his sorrugate you will know that it is Nigeria Democracy that is a joke not PDP.

fergie001:
James Omotosho, we know him nah 😂

AMINDA:
Nigeria's democracy has never found itself in its current state, just because one man is scared of facing opponents in an election. It is things like this that make the rumours of a coup very popular among the populace.

AMINDA:
Nigeria's democracy has never found itself in its current state, just because one man is scared of facing opponents in an election. It is things like this that make the rumours of a coup very popular among the populace.

fergie001:
James Omotosho, we know him nah 😂

Igirigimercenar:
. This is no longer funny at all

Our democracy is in danger

peleson1:
What are likely the actions because looking at spc, they are having similar issues regarding enugu state and such litigations will also stall spc so it seems and if the APC argue it's an internal party affairs then PDP can also run on that ..
Pls shade more light ...

For me,the court should allow PDP run their party . APC run their own even akpabio and Ahmad lawan did not win their primary election to become senators and those who won were denied the party ticket and tickets were given to akpabio and lawan respectively and the court allowed it this is very gross in democracy so why can't same court allow PDP have say in their own party when it is clear that APC is using elements like wike to cause troubles!?

These criminal legal system Tinubu has adopted is giving credence to the rumoured coup

Putindbutt:
Wike is the one changing the party's legal adviser in the middle of court cases?. Shift abeg.

fergie001:
First things first, this is an interim order with the Judge looking for a way to attract attention before getting to his predetermined destination.

No Court can stop the Convention of a Political Party. It is within the internal affairs of a Political Party... Again, this is Wike, not Tinubu.
Omotosho was the Judge who kick-started the order that sank Fubara....

The Judgement will be read out before the end of October. How can 3 Chairmen of a Party sue that leadership structures should be restored in States that are not even in their zones? What is the suit about?
issues surrounding the South-South zonal leadership, party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States, as well as the micro-zoning arrangement for the convention.

A. This is long foregone. The South South "Calabar Carnival" illegally did hold months ago and has been overtaken by events. Days before the said zonal election, the NWC rightly cancelled and installed a caretaker committee, same was done in other States. Just like the Enugu APC Chair during the National for disbanding the State Exco. Infact, it is now academic as the Court cannot appoint leaders for any Party, it is academic and is within the internal affairs of a political party, no court can adjudicate on the same suit.

B. Micro-zoning offices is not for the court to determine. It dwells within the domestic affairs of a political party. What is the business of a court within leadership positions or structures within a Party?

This is not the plot.... There is a bigger game most aren't seeing. Only the PDP NEC can say authoritatively today, say the Convention will be rescheduled, even the NWC cannot.