Court halts PDP convention over Sule Lamido’s ‘exclusion’ from chairmanship race

A federal high court sitting in Abuja has made a final order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo state, on November 15 and 16.

Peter Lifu, presiding judge, gave the order on Friday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa state governor.

The court had on November 11, issued a temporary order restraining the party from proceeding with the planned convention pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Lamido had sued the party for allegedly denying him the opportunity to purchase the chairmanship nomination form to enable him participate in the convention.

In his judgment, Lifu held that the 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 judge held that PDP is under “strict” obligation to adhere to its own rules and regulations by giving opportunities to eligible members to pursue their political aspirations.

Consequently, the judge directed that the planned convention be put on hold to allow Lamido to obtain the nomination form, mobilise supporters and conduct his campaign.

“An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff,” the court ruled.

“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.”

Lifu also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP without including the plaintiff as a contestant.

The order follows a similar ruling last month. On October 31, James Omotosho, an Abuja federal high court judge stopped the PDP from going ahead with the convention.

The judge said evidence before the court showed that the party failed to hold valid state congresses before the planned national convention as stipulated in the 1999 constitution, INEC guidelines, as well as its own constitution.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.was filed by Austine Nwachukwu, PDP chairman in Imo state; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia state chairman; and Turnah George, south-south secretary of the party.

The plaintiffs are believed to be allies of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

On November 4, the Oyo state high court ordered the PDP and Umar Damagum, the national chairman, to proceed with the convention.

A.L. Akintola, the presiding judge, issued the order following an ex parte application filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi.

On Monday, some allies of Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction Akintola over alleged judicial indiscretion and abuse of office.