A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the stoppage of the scheduled Elective National Convention of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The national convention planned to hold in Ibadan Oyo State was to take place between 15 and 16th November, 2025.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by a former governor of Jigawa State and and National Chairmanship aspiran, Mr. Sule Lamido, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring or recognising the national convention without the inclusion and participation of the plaintiff.
The judge held that evidence before the court established that Lamido was unjustly denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman of the party, in violation of the PDP Constitution and its internal regulations.
The court further held that the PDP was duty-bound to create opportunities for its members to serve by adopting deliberate measures that enable them to pursue their political aspirations.
The court therefore, ordered that Mr. Lamido be allowed to obtain nomination forms and contest the chairmanship position.
part of the judgement reads:
“An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff.
“In the light of the above, it is hereby held that the convention be put on hold for the plaintiff to obtain a nomination form, campaign and mobilise supporters.”
Earlier on Tuesday November 11, 2025, the court had ruled the PDP should stop the convention pending the determination of the Substantive suit.
The elective convention has faced series of obstacles emanating from the lingering leadership crisis in the party. In a celebrated case, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja had on October 31, 2025 that the convention could not go on due to noncompliance with extant Electoral laws as well as the PDP Constitution. Justice Omotosho also oredered INEC to stay away from the convention.
Confirming the judgement in a terse statement of Friday, Mansur Ahmed Hassan, media assistant to Mr. Lamido affirmed that,
“In today’s seating at 2:12pm, Justice Peter Life has ordered People’s Democratic Party to sell and screen H.E. Sule Lamido CON, to aspire and contest for PDP National Chairmanship. The court has asked PDP not to go ahead with it’s planned l National Convention if done so, it will stand null and void.”
The proponents of the convention including the suspended National Chairman of the PDP, Illiya Damagun, member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Olabode George and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had insisted that the convention would go on irrespective of the court judgements.
At press time there has not been any reaction from the convention organisers.
