By Ademola Adeloye, Ibadan
Five days after a Federal High Court, FHC, Abuja, halted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, upcoming National Convention, an Oyo State High Court yesterday ordered the PDP to go ahead and hold the convention slated for November 15 and 16.
Besides, the presiding Judge, Justice A. L. Akintola also ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should monitor and observe the PDP national convention.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the order is sequel to a suit marked I/1336/2025, filed by Folahan Malamo Adelabi, an aspirant contesting the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party.
Akintola, in the order asked the PDP, its servants, agents or officers not to stop, frustrate, the guidelines, timetable and schedule of activities, or disrupt, prevent or stop the scheduled national convention.
He also ordered the Chairman, National Convention Organising Committee, NCOC, who is Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, to proceed with all arrangements relating to the party’s convention.
Over 3,000 delegates, including statutory delegates, governors, National Assembly members, and party stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
It would be recalled that a FHC sitting in Abuja, had last week Friday stopped the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party when Justice James Omotosho issued an order that the convention cannot proceed until the party fully complied with the provisions of its Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The development followed a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP over allegation that the party failed to adhere to due process in the buildup to the convention, where new national officers were to be elected.
Omotosho, in his ruling restrained the INEC from accepting or giving effect to any report or outcome of a PDP convention not conducted in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the internal regulations of the party.
He also held that the INEC is duty-bound to ensure that any political party activity, including conventions, complies with all statutory and constitutional requirements before it can be recognised.
The nine defendants in the suit are: INEC, the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee, NWC, the National Executive Committee, NEC, Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
