Ibadan is bracing for an influx of political heavyweights as the Peoples Democratic Party pushes ahead with its National Convention scheduled for November 15 to 16, 2025, despite conflicting court orders and internal disagreements.
Tensions rose within the party after an Oyo High Court last week directed the PDP and its acting national chairman Umar Damagum to continue preparations for the convention without delay.
Another twist emerged days later when an Abuja High Court issued a ruling stopping the PDP from holding the event and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to refrain from supervising or recognising any outcome.
Meanwhile, a faction loyal to Sam Anyanwu announced that the convention had been postponed, a claim immediately dismissed by the Damagum leadership which insisted that no superior court had issued an order countering the earlier directive.
Across Ibadan on Friday, activity intensified at the Lekan Salami Stadium where the party’s colours dominated the arena in anticipation of the high stakes gathering.
Delegates from across the country have begun arriving in the Oyo State capital, while party officials continued inspections at the stadium to confirm readiness for the two day event.
On its official X handle, the PDP released fresh images from the venue, declaring that preparations had reached advanced levels ahead of the convention.
“With the venue fully aglow and preparations hitting fever pitch, the stage is set for a convention that would redefine the PDP’s trajectory toward 2027,” the party posted.
Hours after the update, key stakeholders met in Abuja and unanimously agreed to proceed with the Ibadan convention, describing November 15 and 16 as unchangeable dates for the party’s 2025 Elective National Convention.
Participants at the meeting included members of the National Working Committee, serving and former governors, federal lawmakers, Board of Trustees members, state chairmen and other senior party figures.
