The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling on Friday in a case that questioned the legality of the planned convention. The judgment followed findings that the party did not follow due process as required by law for organizing such a convention.
According to the court, evidence from INEC and other parties involved in the case revealed that the PDP failed to conduct congresses in some states, which goes against the legal requirements guiding internal party elections.
The court also found that several official communications from the PDP were signed only by the National Chairman without the National Secretary. The judge said such actions violated the party’s procedures and rendered those documents invalid.
In addition, the PDP was said to have failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before holding its meetings and congresses. The court stated that this failure prevented the electoral body from properly monitoring the events, as required by law.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the party’s non-compliance with the necessary legal steps had made the planned convention unlawful in its current state. He advised the PDP to correct the irregularities before proceeding with the exercise.
The court then ordered INEC not to receive, publish, or recognize the results of the convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan until the party meets all legal conditions for such events.