A federal high court in Abuja has issued a definitive ruling preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its national convention, planned for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Peter Lifu delivered the decision on Friday while concluding a case brought by former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido.
The court had earlier granted a temporary order on November 11 to pause preparations for the event. Lamido argued that the party denied him the chance to obtain the chairmanship nomination form, effectively shutting him out of the race.
Justice Lifu ruled that the material presented before the court proved that Lamido was unfairly barred from purchasing the form required to contest for national chairman, thereby breaching the PDP constitution and its internal procedures.
He stressed that the party is under a strict duty to follow its own rules and ensure qualified members are allowed to pursue elective positions.
The court ordered PDP to suspend all convention activities until Lamido is allowed to obtain the nomination form, gather supporters, and run his campaign.
The ruling stated, “An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff.”
The judgment also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising or recognising any PDP convention conducted without Lamido being included as a contender.
This decision follows an earlier ruling on October 31 by another Abuja federal high court judge, James Omotosho, who also blocked the convention, stating that the party failed to conduct proper state congresses as required by the 1999 constitution, INEC regulations, and its own charter. That suit was filed by senior party officials believed to be allies of FCT minister Nyesom Wike.
A conflicting order had emerged on November 4 when an Oyo state high court, through Justice A.L. Akintola, directed the PDP and acting national chairman Umar Damagum to proceed with the convention after an ex parte request by Folahan Malomo Adelabi.
Tensions heightened further when some associates of Wike petitioned National Judicial Council on Monday, asking for disciplinary action against Akintola for alleged misconduct in handling the matter.
