The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee in response to Friday’s Federal High Court decision, which halted the party’s planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A member of the NWC, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the meeting would take place on Saturday at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
“That’s the judgment. However, I know that the NWC has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow. The leaders will review what transpired throughout the process and determine the next line of action,” the official said.
“The party is set for a very serious deliberation, which will shape its next steps and provide members and Nigerians a clearer sense of direction in the coming days.”
The emergency session comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the opposition party from convening the convention due to alleged violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the party’s internal constitution.
The judge ruled in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 that the PDP failed to hold valid state congresses in several states and also violated the law by failing to provide the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the required 21-day notice before convening the convention.
Omotosho decided that the flaws were fundamental, rendering the entire procedure leading up to the planned convention illegal.
“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy. The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” he declared.
He further ordered that all convention notices must be signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary, and that signing such documents by only the chairman was illegal.
As a result, the judgment barred INEC from monitoring, acknowledging, or publishing the outcome of any PDP convention that did not comply with the law.
“INEC is not entitled to give effect to the outcome of any political party convention that does not comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and relevant party guidelines,” Omotosho said.
Three aggrieved PDP members filed the suit: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary).
They urged the court to postpone the planned convention, claiming that it breached both the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules.
They claimed that no genuine congresses were held in at least 14 states before the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee gave notice of the convention.
The nine defendants in the lawsuit include INEC, the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the NWC, the NEC, Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Justice Omotosho rejected the PDP’s first objection that the issue was an internal matter, ruling that compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC instructions is independent of party affiliation.
“Non-compliance with the rules and regulations of INEC and political parties cannot be regarded as an internal affair of a political party. INEC has the power to issue subsidiary legislation for the conduct of political parties, and such subsidiary legislation has the force of law,” he said.
The ruling elicited mixed reactions from the courtroom, which was packed with lawyers, journalists, and party members. Despite the hum of a heavy-duty air conditioner, the room became heated and tight as the judge read his decision.
As soon as the ruling was given, the plaintiffs’ supporters burst into song and dancing, while the PDP delegation filed out in silence, grim-faced.
Speaking with the press after the proceedings, the PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum condemned the ruling as a setback for democracy, vowing that the party would appeal immediately.
“This is not what we expected. We will appeal it. You cannot stop a whole political party from exercising its legal rights. This judgment today is a panacea to annihilating democracy in this country,” he said.
