By Abiola Olawale
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been further plunged into fresh legal and political turmoil following another ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which has stopped its planned 2025 National Convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan.
This time, the new ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Tuesday over an application brought by a former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido.
Justice Lifu also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the Convention, where national officers are expected to be elected.
The New Diplomat reports that Lamido had taken the party before the court, complaining that he was denied the opportunity to buy the Chairmanship nomination form to enable him to participate in the convention.
Ruling on the matter, the judge held that evidence from Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members as required by law.
Justice Lifu also held that the balance of convenience tilted towards Lamido because he would suffer more if allowed to be unlawfully excluded from the planned convention.
In his final pronouncement, the Judge restrained PDP from proceeding with the convention billed for November 15 and 16 or any other date in Ibadan or any other place.
This new judgment comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled on October 31, 2025, restraining the PDP from holding its National Convention, citing failure to comply with mandatory electoral laws and conduct valid state congresses.
The ruling also barred INEC from recognizing the outcome of the planned November 15-16, 2025 convention.
In a contradictory twist, an Oyo State High Court later cleared the PDP to proceed, leading to internal confusion and a formal appeal against the Abuja judgment.
