The labyrinthine legal landscape surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention intensified today as the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan once again took up the matter, ultimately adjourning the high-stakes suit until Wednesday. The proceedings, marked by significant legal drama and a deliberate restriction of access to journalists, concluded with a firm directive from the bench: the party’s national leadership must strictly adhere to the established schedule for the forthcoming national assembly.
Justice A.L. Akintola, the presiding judge, delivered the crucial order after listening intently to the arguments presented by counsel representing all parties in the case. The judge explicitly directed the PDP national leadership, including the defendants, to “adhere to and honour the provisions of the aforesaid Guidelines, Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the National Convention pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.” The court’s insistence on procedural integrity underscores the deep internal struggles rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party ahead of the critical event.
The Core of the Applicant's Prayer
The case centers on an application filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, who successfully obtained an initial ex parte order last Monday instructing the PDP and its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the planned convention [Original post]. Adelabi's core request to the court was to secure an interim injunction restraining the defendants the PDP, Umar Damagum, Governor Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking any action that would result in “truncating, frustrating the Guidelines, Timetable and Schedule of Activity and/or disrupting, preventing and or stopping the conduct of the Scheduled National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fixed for the 15th and 16th November, 2025, at Ibadan” [Original post].
This specific injunction highlights the internal anxiety within the party regarding the commitment of its leadership to follow its own rules and timeline. The applicant’s legal strategy is clearly focused on protecting the integrity of the process and ensuring the Elective National Convention, which is scheduled to select national officers, holds as planned in the Oyo State capital on November 15th and 16th, 2025. Governor Fintiri, listed as a defendant, holds the critical role of Chairman of the 2025 National Convention Committee, placing him directly at the heart of the proceedings and the responsibility of organizing the event,.
The Conflict of Jurisdictions: A Shadow from Abuja
The Oyo High Court’s ruling must be viewed against the backdrop of significant, and often contradictory, judicial interventions from other jurisdictions, particularly the Federal High Court in Abuja. The internal wrangling within the PDP has intensified precisely because of these conflicting court rulings, creating substantial uncertainty over who holds the legitimate authority to convene or supervise party meetings,.
Just days prior to this development, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a starkly contrasting order, restraining the PDP from holding the planned national convention entirely,. This Abuja ruling was based on the party’s alleged failure to comply with electoral laws and INEC guidelines. Specifically, Justice Omotosho found that the PDP had not held valid state congresses in several states and had failed to properly notify INEC of its intentions, breaching both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution,. Furthermore, the order explicitly restrained INEC from recognizing, accepting, or acting on any outcome or report of a PDP convention not conducted in full compliance with legal and statutory requirements,.
This judicial tussle where the Oyo High Court appears to be upholding the convention’s timeline while the Abuja Federal High Court questions its legality based on procedural infractions has plunged the PDP into a legal and administrative quagmire. The conflicting judgments raise serious concerns about judicial consistency in handling intra-party affairs, a recurring challenge that often complicates Nigeria’s democratic growth and consolidation,. The Oyo High Court’s decision, in this context, is viewed by many as a necessary step toward legal relief, paving the way for the smooth conduct of the convention and reaffirming the party's right to manage its internal affairs within the bounds of the law, pending the final determination of the substantive issues,.
Deepening Internal Crises and Factional Dynamics
Beyond the courtroom drama, the legal challenge filed by Adelabi reflects the deeper, unrelenting internal crisis that has plagued the PDP. The party has been enmeshed in factional rivalries, power tussles, and accusations of forgery and sabotage, leading to growing doubts about its unity and ability to serve as a credible opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The North Central Zonal Working and Executive Committee, for instance, has previously voiced deep concern over the overall crisis and rejected any purported attempt to illegally remove National Chairman Umar Damagum, describing such moves as divisive. While the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) had set up a reconciliation committee to unify aggrieved factions, a conflicting statement from a purported factional acting chairman announced the cancellation of the Ibadan convention, further underscoring the disunity at the highest levels.
The current order from Justice Akintola directing strict adherence to the convention guidelines and timetable serves as an unambiguous call for internal democracy and transparency. By emphasizing compliance, the court is addressing the core weakness that has driven many aspirants to seek legal redress: the failure of internal party mechanisms to resolve disputed primaries and procedures transparently.
The Road to Wednesday and Beyond
The adjournment until Wednesday signifies a critical pause, allowing the parties to file all necessary legal processes before the pending applications are heard. Should the Oyo court continue to uphold the convention, the PDP is poised to immediately finalize essential logistical preparations: screening of aspirants, distribution of delegate materials, and accreditation processes,. The presence of INEC officials in Ibadan to monitor the proceedings, as required by law, is also anticipated, provided the legal cloud is lifted.
Ultimately, the resolution of this suit will not only impact the PDP’s immediate leadership structure but also serve as a barometer for the party’s cohesion and political stability. The court's order today, demanding discipline and strict adherence to the rules, is an authoritative statement that while political parties may be "juridical entities" allowed to manage internal affairs, those affairs must always remain anchored by legal and statutory requirements to safeguard Nigeria's democratic process. The nation now awaits Wednesday’s judgment to determine if the path to the November 15th convention in Ibadan is truly clear.