The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, has scheduled October 31 for judgment in a suit seeking to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its 2025 National Convention over alleged breaches of the party’s constitution and electoral regulations.
The decision to fix the judgment date came on Tuesday after the court heard arguments from both sides in a case filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP. During the proceedings, Justice Omotosho reiterated his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit, cautioning that the order must not be disobeyed.
The judge warned that any action taken by any of the parties in violation of the subsisting order could be nullified by the court. He stressed the importance of judicial restraint and respect for due process while the matter remains before him.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to recognize that the matter transcends internal party politics. He argued that the case centers on compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act of 2022, and the PDP Constitution.
Daudu emphasized that, by law, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must monitor political party congresses to validate them. He claimed that in 14 states, no valid congresses were held before the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) announced plans for the National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025.
However, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, represented by Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction. He maintained that the organization of conventions and congresses are internal matters that fall within the exclusive control of the party.
This argument was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), counsel to the PDP’s NWC and NEC, who contended that the court should refrain from interfering in what he described as the party’s internal governance structure.
The plaintiffs—Austin Nwachukwu, Chairman of the Imo State PDP; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Chairman of the Abia State PDP; and Turnah George, PDP Secretary for the South-South zone—approached the court to halt the planned convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
They allege that the scheduled convention violates the provisions of the PDP Constitution and disregards established procedures for state congresses.
The nine defendants listed in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC); the National Executive Committee (NEC); acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; and party chieftains Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of the convention, the October 31 judgment is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s internal democracy and preparations for the 2025 elections.
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