National Convention: Court decides PDP’s fate Friday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Friday learn whether it can go ahead with its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, as the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver judgment in a suit seeking to stop the exercise.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after hearing final submissions in a case brought by three PDP officials — Austine Nwachukwu, the party’s Imo State chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia State chairman; and Turnah George, South-South secretary.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC) are listed as defendants.

The plaintiffs, said to be loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike — a vocal critic of the planned convention — are urging the court to halt the event. They argue that the party failed to comply with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act during preparations for the convention.

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Their lawyer told the court that “no congress was conducted in 14 states,” insisting that the central issue was whether the defendants breached the law — a matter he said could not be dismissed as an internal party dispute.

However, the PDP contended that the case was an internal affair outside the jurisdiction of the court. The party maintained that the claimants were attempting to derail its legitimate transition process.
The case has become a key test of unity for the opposition party, which continues to grapple with internal divisions and leadership tussles ahead of the 2027 elections.

The controversy over the convention has been further complicated by other legal battles. The party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu — also aligned with Wike — recently petitioned security agencies, alleging that his signature was forged on documents sent to INEC to notify the commission of the convention. The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) have both dismissed the allegation as unfounded.