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Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a final order stopping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its 2025 National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convention is billed to hold between November 15 and 16 in the Oyo State capital for the purpose of electing national officers for the PDP.
However, Justice Lifu, in his final judgment on Friday afternoon in a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, barred the PDP from proceeding with the convention until it complies with its Constitution and guidelines for the convention.
He ordered that the Ibadan convention must be put on hold until Sule Lamido is allowed to purchase a nomination form for the office of National Chairmanship and campaign to realize his aspiration.
The judge prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or aiding the Ibadan convention until the former Jigawa State Governor is allowed to participate.
Justice Lifu held that the PDP is under strict obligation to adhere to its own rules and regulations by giving opportunities to eligible members to pursue their individual aspirations.
He said it was wrong for the PDP to have denied Lamido the opportunity to purchase a nomination form for the office of National Chairman of the party.
Justice Lifu stated that the PDP is in clear and utter breach of its own Constitution and guidelines by denying some members the opportunity to access nomination forms for elective offices at the convention.
An indication that all was not well with the convention first emerged on October 31, when Justice James Omotosho restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the forthcoming 2025 National Convention of the PDP.
Justice Omotosho had issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit challenging the legality of the convention.
The judge based his decision on the grounds that the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
He held that evidence provided by the electoral umpire and some respondents showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation, in breach of the law.
In addition, the court held that the signing of notices and correspondences of the PDP by its National Chairman without the National Secretary violated the law and consequently rendered such notices and correspondences null and void.
Furthermore, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC to carry out its statutory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.
He concluded that the PDP’s failure to comply with the law put the planned convention in jeopardy and advised the party to take the necessary steps before proceeding with the election.
Three aggrieved members of the party who instituted the case are Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was instituted on their behalf by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu.
PDP suffered a second setback on November 11, when Justice Lifu issued an order of interim injunction restraining the party from holding its 2025 National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.
The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing the outcome of the convention where national officers were expected to be elected.
Justice Lifu issued the second order while delivering ruling in an application brought by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, had dragged the party to court, complaining that he was denied the opportunity to buy a chairmanship nomination form to enable him to participate in the convention.
The judge based the restriction order against the PDP on the grounds that the party refused, neglected, and failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
He held that evidence from Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members as required by law.
Justice Lifu also held that the balance of convenience tilted in favor of Lamido because he would suffer more if unlawfully excluded from the planned convention.
To ensure a remedy, the judge noted that the former governor had undertaken to pay damages to the PDP in the event that his suit was found to be frivolous.
According to the judge, in a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly followed by those in charge, adding that to do otherwise would endanger democracy itself.
