Court to Deliver Judgment Oct 31 In PDP Convention Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 31 as the date to deliver judgment in a suit seeking to halt the upcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after lawyers representing both sides—plaintiffs and defendants—adopted their written arguments in court on Tuesday. The suit was filed by three party officials: Austin Nwachukwu, chairman of the Imo State PDP; Amah Nnanna, chairman of the Abia State PDP; and Turnah Alabh George, secretary of the PDP South-South zone.

They sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and several top party officials, including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Chairman Umar Damagum, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).

The plaintiffs are asking the court to stop the PDP from holding its scheduled national convention on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected. They argue that no valid congress was conducted in 14 states before the notice of the convention was issued, which they say violates the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution, and the PDP Constitution.

During the hearing, Justice Omotosho reminded all parties that the court’s earlier order to maintain the status quo regarding the convention must not be ignored.

Plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to treat the matter as a constitutional issue rather than an internal party affair. He insisted that INEC’s monitoring of congresses is mandatory under the law, and failure to comply invalidates the planned convention.

However, the defence team, led by senior lawyers Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), argued that the case falls under the internal affairs of the PDP and therefore lies outside the court’s jurisdiction. They maintained that issues relating to conventions and congresses should be resolved within the party’s framework, not through judicial intervention.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter for judgment on October 31, which will determine whether the PDP can proceed with its planned convention or not.