A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to halt the party’s planned meetings and national convention.
The ruling was delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Thursday after a group of PDP officials, believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, asked the court for an interim order to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP from going ahead with the scheduled events.
The case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by Austine Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP chairman; and Turnah George, the South-South secretary of the party.
The plaintiffs wanted the court to stop the PDP from holding its national executive committee (NEC) meeting fixed for October 18 and the national convention planned for November 15 and 16, pending the determination of their main case.
They also asked that INEC be restrained from monitoring or taking part in any PDP meetings or accepting notices from party officials in preparation for the convention.
The group claimed that the PDP leadership had not followed proper procedures and that notices for the meetings were not issued in line with the party’s constitution.
The request was linked to ongoing internal tensions within the PDP. Wike, although still a member of the party, has been at odds with its national leadership and has previously opposed plans to hold the national convention.
Earlier this year, he met with members of the party from the South-South and South-East to push for the postponement of the convention, which was initially set for August.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho declined to grant the interim order. He directed the plaintiffs to serve all defendants, including INEC and PDP officials, with their main motion for interlocutory injunction.
The judge also warned that all parties must avoid any action that could undermine the court’s eventual decision.The case has been adjourned to October 14 for hearing of the main application.
The PDP’s planned national convention, where new leaders are expected to emerge, remains scheduled to hold in November pending further court proceedings.