JUST IN: PDP Insists Court Ruling Will Not Halt National Convention Preparations

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja will not derail its preparations for the forthcoming national convention.

In a statement on Thursday, the party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, described the ruling as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process,” maintaining that the PDP remains “fully empowered” to continue activities leading to the convention where new national officers will be elected.

Last Friday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court restrained the opposition party from holding its planned convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses before the convention, in violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and the party’s constitution.

The judge ruled that notices and official correspondence signed solely by the PDP national chairman were invalid without the co-signature of the national secretary, describing such acts as a breach of the law. He further faulted the party for not issuing the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC, preventing the commission from carrying out its statutory oversight functions. Consequently, the court barred INEC from recognising or publishing any outcome from the proposed convention until the PDP complies with all legal requirements.

Reacting to the decision, Ologunagba said the judgment does not invalidate the processes already underway for the convention. He cited a recent Supreme Court decision affirming the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs, stressing that the PDP remains focused on its preparations.

“The PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years,” Ologunagba said.

He added that the party’s legal team has been directed to immediately appeal the ruling in a bid to uphold what he described as the PDP’s commitment to the rule of law and the protection of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.