Court clears PDP to hold national convention in Ibadan

Orders INEC to monitor, observe convention

Emeka Agu Jnr

In a landmark ruling delivered on Tuesday, November 3, 2025, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Hon. Justice A. L. Akintola, has unequivocally cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its Elective National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The court, in Suit No. I/1336/2025, and filed by Folahan Malamo Adelabi, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary, ordered the PDP, Servants, Agents or Officers not to truncate, frustrate, the Guidelines, Time Table and Schedule of Activities, or disrupt, prevent or stop the Scheduled National Convention.

In a decisive pronouncement, Justice Akintola ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy monitors and observers to the convention to ensure full compliance with electoral laws, thereby reinforcing the transparency and legitimacy of the exercise.

The Court also directed Rt Hon Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), to proceed with all arrangements relating to the exercise.

This ruling puts to rest all legal encumbrances, allowing the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), led by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to finalise preparations for the seamless participation of the over 3,000 delegates, including statutory delegates, governors, National Assembly members, and party stakeholders from across the states and the FCT.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), calling for an investigation into what it described as a violent invasion of its National Secretariat in Abuja by suspended party officials and their supporters.

The party said the incident, which reportedly left several staff members injured, was led by its suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, with claims that the disruption was aided by some security operatives.

In the petition which was signed by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, the PDP explained that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), at its 608th meeting, had earlier suspended four national officers, including Senator Anyanwu, over alleged anti-party activities and referred them to the disciplinary committee.

According to the petition, the invasion occurred on Monday, November 3, 2025.

“The suspended National Secretary allegedly led a group of supporters to the National Secretariat, forced their way into offices, and disrupted official activities.

“The thugs broke into offices, unleashed violence, attacked staff, fired tear gas, wounded our staff, assaulted journalists, and disrupted activities in our National Secretariat,” the petition stated.

It also claimed that a female staff who inhaled tear gas during the commotion fainted and was later revived, while three others; Mr. Terna Tergba, Mrs. Cecilia Ukwayi, and Mr. Innocent Ezekiel sustained injuries and were receiving treatment.

“The intruders attempted to install a member of the National Working Committee as acting National Chairman,” the party further alleged, describing the incident as a dangerous precedent for internal democracy.

“The role of the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, regarding this incident should be properly examined. On whose instruction did he deploy security personnel to the National Secretariat of a political party without notifying the National Chairman?

“The Inspector General may please note that our country is currently under the scope of the international community, and this unwarranted assault on the opposition party and its staff, which is a clear threat to democracy in Nigeria, further aggravates a very tense situation,” it added.

The PDP urged the IGP to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, hold those responsible accountable, and protect the rights of political institutions across the country.