A Federal High Court in Abuja has halted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned 2025 national convention, ruling that the party must first comply with its constitution, statutory procedures and the Electoral Act.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgement on Friday in a case brought by three PDP members who challenged the scheduled convention set for 15–16 November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The event was expected to produce new national officers.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or accepting any report or outcome of a PDP convention that does not follow due process and the party’s internal regulations.
Justice Omotosho held that INEC “is not entitled to give effect to a convention of a party not conducted in line with the Constitution, Electoral Act, and party guidelines.”
The plaintiffs argued that organising the convention without addressing internal issues amounted to a breach of the PDP constitution.
The defendants in the suit include INEC, the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee, as well as Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
The PDP has yet to react to the ruling.