A Federal High Court in Abuja has, for the second time, barred the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, scheduled for November 15–16.
The court restrained the Independent national electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing the outcome of the convention.
The convention was intended to elect new national officers to pilot the affairs of the party.
A former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, through an ex-parte application moved by his counsel, Jephthah Njikonye, SAN, sought an interim order stopping the convention pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the plaintiff’s application had merit and was deserving of the court’s intervention.
Consequently, the judge restrained the PDP from convening the convention pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Lifu noted that the plaintiff, a bona fide member of the PDP with an interest in the position of national chairman, would suffer greater hardship if the interim order was not granted.
He added that he saw no reason to depart from the earlier decision of Justice James Omotosho of the same court, delivered on October 31, 2025, which similarly halted the PDP’s national convention and restrained INEC from monitoring or recognizing it.
Meanwhile, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has again adjourned the hearing of a Motion on Notice in the suit filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), its acting national chairman, and other respondents.
However, PDP leaders in Ekiti State warned against alleged subterranean moves by “enemies of the party” to upturn the outcome of the governorship primary won by Dr Wole Oluyede.
Their colleagues in Oyo petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), demanding urgent disciplinary action against Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court over “acts of judicial recklessness, impunity and gross misconduct.”
The PDP Convention case, which has attracted growing political attention, will continue tomorrow, following the court’s decision to allow all parties more time to file and exchange necessary processes.
Justice Akintola, after hearing submissions from counsel representing both sides, emphasised the importance of properly filing all relevant documents before substantive proceedings could commence.
The judge added that under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, courts must dispense justice without fear or favour. Abdicating this duty, he said, could lead to anarchy.
The court had, in a ruling last week, granted an ex parte order permitting the PDP to proceed with preparations for its scheduled National Convention while setting Monday, November 10, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.