The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been barred by a Federal High Court in Abuja from proceeding with its national convention planned for November in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The order was handed down by Justice James Omotosho following a suit that questioned the legality of the proposed gathering scheduled for November 15 and 16.
Those who brought the case before the court are Austine Nwachukwu of Imo State, Amah Abraham Nnanna of Abia State, and Turnah George, the South-South secretary of the party.
They argued that the convention preparations breached several legal provisions.
Among those listed as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP itself, the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, and top party officials including National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
The claimants, who are said to have close ties to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, maintained that congresses were not properly conducted in at least 14 states.
According to them, this failure rendered the planned convention unlawful and inconsistent with both the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act.
It was further argued that the matter could not be dismissed as an internal party issue since, in their view, the party’s own constitutional processes had been violated.
The PDP, however, insisted that the dispute was strictly internal and beyond the authority of the court.
Party officials described the case as a ploy to derail its leadership transition and delay ongoing political arrangements.
Tensions in the party had already been building before the court ruling. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s National Secretary, recently alleged that his signature had been forged on official correspondence sent to INEC about the upcoming convention.
The PDP’s National Working Committee and Board of Trustees rejected that claim, describing it as unfounded and an attempt to stir division.
Meanwhile, preparations for the event have been placed on hold. The National Convention Organising Committee had earlier suspended the screening of aspirants that was to take place on October 28, a move seen as connected to the pending court case.
The court’s decision adds to the growing uncertainty within the opposition party, which has been struggling with internal rifts and leadership disputes in recent months.
