The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31, 2025, to deliver judgment in a case seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date after lawyers representing both the plaintiffs and the defendants presented their arguments and adopted their written submissions in court on Tuesday.
The suit was filed by three PDP officials — Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State Chairman; Amah Nnanna, the Abia State Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the South-South Secretary of the party. They are challenging the legality of the planned convention and asked the court to halt it.
Those listed as defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, the party’s National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, the National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Others joined in the case are the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and PDP chieftains Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
During the proceedings, Justice Omotosho restated his earlier directive that all parties must maintain the status quo and avoid any action that could undermine the case before the court rules on it.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the matter should not be treated as an internal party issue but as a constitutional one, as it concerns compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act of 2022, and the PDP Constitution.
He claimed that no valid congresses were held in 14 states before the PDP’s national organs issued notice for the convention, making the planned event unlawful.
On the other hand, counsel representing the PDP National Chairman, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction, contending that the issue of party conventions falls strictly under the internal affairs of political parties.
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who represented the NWC and NEC, supported this position, maintaining that the judiciary has no authority to interfere in internal party matters.
The court will decide on October 31 whether or not the PDP can proceed with its national convention as scheduled.