Court okays PDP convention; party’s BoT meets today

The crisis surrounding the planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for November 15 and 16 deepened on Tuesday following a fresh order from an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan approving the conduct of the convention. The latest order came just days after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on […]

The crisis surrounding the planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for November 15 and 16 deepened on Tuesday following a fresh order from an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan approving the conduct of the convention.

The latest order came just days after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, October 31, halted the proposed convention on the grounds that valid notices were not issued to about 14 state chapters. The Abuja court also ruled that the notices were invalid because they were not signed by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Reacting to the Abuja court’s order, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the ruling did not invalidate the party’s preparations for the convention, stressing that the PDP remains committed to proceeding with all processes and activities leading to the election of new national officers.

He described the judgment as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic processes” and disclosed that the party had directed its legal team to file an appeal.

The conflicting court orders have, however, sparked outrage among legal practitioners, who described the development as “forum shopping” that could lead to a breakdown of law and order if not urgently addressed.

The Abuja court’s decision had already triggered a wave of suspensions and counter-suspensions within the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), splitting the leadership into two camps — one led by Damagum, backed by PDP governors, and the other by Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, supported by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

On Monday, Mohammed, who was elected at a meeting convened by Anyanwu and three others, led his supporters, accompanied by security operatives, to take over the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Shortly after seizing control, Mohammed addressed journalists from the office of the National Chairman, promising to unite the party and work with all stakeholders to reposition the PDP.

However, barely an hour later, security operatives locked down the entire Wadata Plaza, ordering staff, visitors and journalists to vacate the premises. The building has since remained under lock and key.

Sources within the party told Daily Trust that the Damagum-led NWC has instructed all PDP staff to remain at home “until further notice” for their safety and until the leadership tussle is resolved.

 

Oyo court clears path for convention

A copy of the court ruling obtained by Daily Trust on Tuesday showed that Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court issued the order on Monday, granting the motion ex parte filed by a PDP member, pending the hearing of the substantive motion on notice.

The suit, filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, a PDP member from Oyo State, lists the PDP; its acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum (for the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee); Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (for the National Convention Organising Committee); and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

Through his counsel, A. E. Okelue, Adelabi had sought interim injunctions restraining the defendants “from truncating or frustrating the guidelines, timetable and schedule of activities, or from preventing the conduct of the scheduled national convention of the PDP fixed for November 15 and 16, 2025, at Ibadan.”

He also prayed the court to direct the PDP leadership to hold and conduct the convention as scheduled, and to compel INEC “to attend, monitor and observe the exercise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.”

After hearing the application, Justice Akintola held that the claimant had successfully demonstrated the need for urgent judicial intervention, saying, “The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed.”

He consequently granted all interim reliefs sought, restraining any interference with the PDP’s timetable and schedule of activities, and compelling the defendants to hold the national convention as fixed.

The order, dated November 3, and issued under the seal of the Oyo State High Court, was signed by the Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed. The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction to November 10.

 

Conflicting orders confusing – Lawyers

Legal experts have expressed concern over the conflicting judicial pronouncements, warning that such situations erode public confidence in the judiciary.

Barrister Ebuka Nwaeze described the development as “judicial impertinence,” adding that obtaining two court orders on the same subject “is unhealthy for the justice system.”

E. M. D. Umukoro, Esq, said the best course of action for the PDP was to approach the Court of Appeal for clarification to avoid jeopardising the national convention.

“In certain instances, related matters filed before different courts may not necessarily be conflicting if the issues presented differ,” Umukoro said. “However, it is unfortunate that people swear to affidavits and lie without being punished. Political parties must be cautious; the PDP should seek the interpretation of a higher court to avoid putting its convention in jeopardy.”

Another lawyer, Barrister Hameed Jimoh, described the situation as “an abuse of court process and clear forum shopping.”

“Lawyers who engage in such practices should be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for sanction,” Jimoh said. “It is unethical for a lawyer to carry out every wish of a client when such instructions are contrary to the rule of law or justice.”

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had, on December 15, 2021, warned judges against issuing conflicting and ex parte orders in political cases. However, despite the warning, such practices have persisted, prompting renewed calls for tougher sanctions against erring judges and complicit lawyers to serve as a deterrent—especially as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections amid crises in nearly all major opposition parties.

 

BoT to meet today

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, is expected to meet today (Wednesday) to deliberate on the escalating crisis.

A notice of the meeting sighted by Daily Trust indicated that it will hold at the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall of the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

The BoT chairman and other party elders, described as the “conscience of the party,” are expected to consider possible resolutions aimed at calming tensions and restoring order within the party ahead of the planned convention.

 

Governors, Damagum meet, petition IGP

Relatedly, governors elected on the platform of the PDP and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, yesterday met in Abuja to discuss ways to tackle the escalating crisis in the party.

At the end of the meeting, the party leaders wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to express their grievances over recent developments.

The petition, titled “Petition on the Invasion of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party and Assault on Staff by Thugs Mobilised by the Suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the Suspended Deputy National Legal Adviser, Aided by the FCT Police Commissioner,” was signed by Damagum.

In the petition, the PDP leadership formally reported to the IGP what it described as a “forceful takeover, threat to life, assault on staff, and disruption of peaceful party activities” allegedly carried out by the suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; suspended Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha; National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman; and backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike.

According to the petition, “To our utmost shock, on Monday, November 3, 2025, the suspended Senator Samuel Anyanwu violently invaded the National Secretariat of our party with thugs mobilised by his personal aides — Arthur Bruno, Emmanuel Okoronkwo and Chidiebere Egwu — brandishing dangerous weapons including guns, knives, cutlasses and sticks.

“They broke into offices, unleashed violence, attacked, fired tear gas, wounded staff, assaulted journalists and disrupted activities in our National Secretariat. A female staff who could not withstand the tear gas suffocated and was later resuscitated.

“The thugs forcefully broke into the office of the National Chairman and attempted to install Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting National Chairman of our party.”

Damagum said three staff members were hospitalised for various injuries inflicted during the attack. The victims were identified as Mr. Terna Tergba, Mrs. Cecilia Ukwayi and Mr. Innocent Ezekiel.

The petition further alleged that the armed thugs, led by Emmanuel Okoronkwo and accompanied by armed police officers, went round the offices of NWC members where they also assaulted staff.

“They openly threatened to kill some members of the NWC while boasting that they had the backing of the FCT Minister and that the police and security agencies could do nothing to them,” the petition read.

It also alleged that some staff overheard Senator Anyanwu speaking with the FCT Commissioner of Police, assuring his aides that both the CP and the minister were “with them.”

“The failure of the police to take immediate action to disperse the thugs lends credence to this report. The role of the FCT Commissioner of Police regarding this attack should be called to question,” the petition said.

“On whose instruction did he, as an officer of the law, deploy security personnel to the national secretariat of a political party without notifying the National Chairman? Why would the police teargas staff performing their legitimate duties?

“What role did the Minister of the FCT play in deploying the Commissioner of Police to assault and intimidate staff of the secretariat?

“As a law-abiding political party, we are disturbed by this unprofessional conduct of the FCT Commissioner of Police, acting under the instruction of the Minister of the FCT.”

The party urged the police to hold the FCT Minister, the Commissioner of Police, Senator Anyanwu and Abdulrahman Mohammed “directly responsible and culpable for this breach of peace, threat to life, assault on innocent citizens and disruption of lawful activities of a political party.”

The petition warned that the assault on the opposition party “poses a clear threat to democracy in Nigeria” and could draw negative attention from the international community.

 

State youth leaders declare support for Abdulrahman

Also on Tuesday, PDP youth leaders from the 36 states endorsed Abdulrahman as acting National Chairman, saying his youthful energy and leadership style could revive the party.

Led by Jamilu Ali, Chairman of the PDP Youth Forum and Gombe State Youth Leader, the group congratulated Abdulrahman, expressing confidence in his ability to stabilise the party and reconcile aggrieved members.

They urged him to “bring all warring factions to the table, create a conducive working environment and position the PDP as a strong opposition party.”

Ali appealed to all stakeholders to “sheathe their swords” and support Abdulrahman, saying, “Our interest should be one because Nigerians are waiting for us.”

In his remarks, the Forum’s Secretary and Cross River State Youth Leader, Comrade Brian Odion, said the group believed the party’s leaders would resolve the crisis soon.

“We believe PDP is one. We don’t believe there is any faction in this party,” Odion said. “All we are saying is, let’s do the right thing. Whoever calls for the right thing to be done, we are in support of that. Nobody should be against doing the right thing.”