The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31 for judgment in a high-stakes case seeking to stop the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice James Omotosho set the date after listening to arguments from both plaintiffs and defence counsel on Tuesday. The plaintiffs; Imo PDP chairman, Austin Nwachukwu; Abia PDP chairman, Amah Nnanna; and PDP South-South Secretary, Turnah Alabh George filed the suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and several top party officials.
Those listed as defendants include PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC); and the National Executive Committee (NEC). Others joined in the suit are the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; South-East Zonal Chairman, Ali Odefa; and former Deputy National Chairman (South), Emmanuel Ogidi.
The plaintiffs are seeking an order to restrain the PDP and INEC from proceeding with the party’s planned national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Omotosho reaffirmed his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the court’s final decision. He warned that any breach of the order would attract legal consequences.
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Daudu stressed that INEC’s role in monitoring party congresses is mandatory, adding that any convention held without proper state congresses would be illegal.
However, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, representing the Acting National Chairman, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction. He maintained that issues relating to conventions and congresses are internal matters of a political party and fall outside judicial interference.
Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, who represented the PDP’s NWC and NEC, supported Erokoro’s position, arguing that the court should refrain from meddling in what he described as the internal administration of the PDP.
The judgment, now slated for October 31, is expected to determine whether the opposition party can proceed with its national convention amid growing internal disputes and regional tensions over leadership control.
