Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Nigeria, has barred Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding the coming national convention over alleged violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the party’s own internal constitution.
The opposition party has scheduled its national convention for 15-16 of November, 2025 at Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, the judge held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states and also breached the law by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before convening the convention.
Omotosho ruled that the irregularities were fundamental and rendered the entire process leading to the proposed convention invalid.
“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” he declared.
“All convention notices must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary, signing of such documents by the chairman alone was unlawful.
“INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that does not comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines.
“INEC is consequently restrained from monitoring, recognising, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that did not meet the legal requirements.”