The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) to deliberate on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which halted its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Party sources confirmed that the leadership will meet on Saturday at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, to review the situation and decide on the next steps.
According to an NWC member who spoke on condition of anonymity, the meeting will examine the judgment and assess its implications on the party’s internal processes.
“The leaders will carefully review what happened in court and take a collective decision on how to move forward,” the source said, adding that the session would give direction to members and supporters across the country.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had earlier restrained the opposition party from conducting its national convention, citing breaches of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP constitution.
Delivering his judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, the judge ruled that the party did not conduct valid state congresses in several states before announcing the convention. He also noted that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.
Omotosho stressed that the party’s failure to comply with due process rendered the planned convention invalid, warning that PDP must correct the lapses before holding any further elections.
He added that all notices relating to conventions must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary, saying any document signed by the chairman alone is void.
The court also barred INEC from monitoring or recognising any PDP convention that does not meet legal and constitutional requirements, stating that the electoral body “must not give effect to any illegitimate political gathering.”
The suit was instituted by three PDP officials — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary) — who alleged that no valid congresses were held in at least 14 states before the notice for the national convention was issued.
They argued that the decision to go ahead with the exercise violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, and urged the court to intervene to safeguard internal democracy within the party.
With the court ruling now placing the PDP’s convention on hold, party leaders are expected to weigh legal options and possibly appeal the judgment in the coming days.
