JUST IN : Court halts PDP national convention pending Lamido’s participation

A Federal High Court in Abuja has once again stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned national convention.

Delivering a ruling on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered that the 2025 convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, be put on hold until former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, is able to obtain the nomination form to contest for the position of national chairman.

The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from supervising, monitoring, or offering any form of support to the convention in Ibadan until Lamido is allowed to participate.

According to Justice Lifu, the PDP is duty-bound to comply with its internal guidelines by ensuring that qualified members are given a fair chance to pursue their ambitions. He maintained that the party erred by denying Lamido the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the chairmanship race.

Lamido, through his lawyer, Jeph Njikonye (SAN), had filed a suit seeking, among other reliefs, an interim order preventing the PDP from holding the convention until the court hears and determines his pending motion. The suit was filed following what he described as the party’s refusal to grant him access to the form for the national chairmanship contest.

The court further held that its decision was informed by the PDP’s alleged failure to meet the legal prerequisites for conducting the convention. Justice Lifu noted that the required notice was not properly published for members, and the mandatory 21-day notice for such an event was not issued by the party.