Wike group commends judgment halting PDP convention

The Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders, a group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has commended the judgment halting the party’s national convention. 

BACKGROUND 

On Friday, a federal high court in Abuja stopped the opposition party’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo state.

James Omotosho, the presiding judge, stated that the 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, the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and its own constitution.

Omotosho said notices and official correspondence signed by the PDP national chairman without the national secretary’s co-signature were “invalid” and a “breach of the law”.

He declared that the PDP’s non-compliance with the legal provisions had jeopardised its planned convention, advising the party to rectify the infractions before proceeding with the event.

Consequently, the court barred INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognising any outcome from the proposed convention until the PDP meets all statutory requirements.

The PDP had said the judgment will not stop its preparations for the convention.

‘WE’LL ABIDE BY IT’

In a communiqué issued after a meeting on Friday night, the group described the court’s ruling as a “landmark judgement” that upholds the supremacy of the party’s constitution and reinforces the rule of law within its ranks.

“We express our profound appreciation for this judicial intervention that restores order, legality, and confidence in the PDP as a law-abiding institution,” the communiqué reads.

“We restate our unwavering commitment to the principles of fairness, justice, equity, and inclusivity — the founding pillars of our great Party — and commend the judiciary for its courage in upholding truth over impunity.”

The stakeholders said the court’s ruling reaffirmed key provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the electoral act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and the PDP constitution regarding the management of party affairs.

The PDP members said the court affirmed Dan Orbih as the authentic national vice-chairman (south-south) of the PDP, declaring the appointment of Emmanuel Ogidi null and void.

The party stakeholders said the court restated that all correspondence to INEC must be jointly signed by the national chairman and the national secretary, with the latter remaining the principal signatory to all official party documents.

The group said the ruling means no valid national convention can hold until all due processes outlined in the law and the party constitution are fully observed.

“The plaintiffs’ action was not an interference in the party’s internal affairs but a patriotic effort to ensure that INEC performs its constitutional duties in entrenching internal democracy in political party administration,” the group said.

The group added that as loyal party members, they are committed to reconciliation, inclusion, and collective rebuilding of the PDP.