Court Stops PDP Convention, Orders Inclusion of Sule Lamido

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party to suspend its national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.

Delivering judgment in the suit instituted by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP without including the plaintiff as a contestant.

Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court established that Lamido was unjustly denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman of the party, in violation of the PDP Constitution and its internal regulations.

The court affirmed that the PDP was duty-bound to create opportunities for its members to serve by adopting deliberate measures that enable them to pursue their political aspirations.

As a consequential order, Lifu directed that the planned convention be put on hold to allow Lamido to obtain the nomination form, mobilise supporters and conduct his campaign.

“An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff.

“In the light of the above, it is hereby held that the convention be put on hold for the plaintiff to obtain a nomination form, campaign and mobilise supporters,” the judge declared.

Recall that on Tuesday, November 11, Lifu delivered a similar ruling restraining the PDP from holding the convention, which was intended to elect new national officers to lead the party.

Lamido, through his counsel, Jephthah Njikonye (SAN), had filed an ex parte motion where he sought an interim injunction stopping the convention pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Lamido, in his suit, stated that if the PDP is not restrained, the party would be violating its constitution and, by implication, denying him the opportunity to contest for the position of national chairman, a position he claimed he is eminently qualified to seek

Lifu, while delivering the ruling in the motion, held that the plaintiff’s application had merit and consequently restrained the PDP from convening the event, pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.

Lifu said he found no reason to depart from an earlier ruling delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the same court on October 31, 2025, which similarly halted the PDP’s planned convention and restrained INEC from participating.

Meanwhile, in a conflicting order, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan permitted the PDP to proceed with the convention.

Justice A. L. Akintola granted the approval while ruling on an ex parte application filed by an Oyo PDP member, Mr Folahan Adelabi, and directed INEC to attend and monitor the convention for the election of new national officers.