Over 3,000 delegates are set to convene today in Ibadan, Oyo State, for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s National Convention, aiming to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC). The ancient city is already buzzing with the arrival of delegates and supporters, creating a vibrant atmosphere as the party pushes forward with its crucial internal politics.
However, the convention proceeds amidst significant legal turbulence. A Federal High Court in Abuja recently issued an order restraining the party from holding the event until it allows former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido to purchase a nomination form for the party’s chairmanship. In a move characteristic of the back-and-forth legal battles plaguing the convention preparations, the Oyo State High Court issued a counter-order, granting the party permission to proceed with the exercise.
Conflicting Judgments and Party Divisions
Buoyed by the Oyo State court’s decision, party leaders and members loyal to the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee are determined to press ahead. On Thursday, supporters from across Nigeria had already converged on the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, with commercial and entertainment activities continuing late into the night. Governors and party leaders have reportedly booked almost all hotels in the Adamasingba area and its environs, while many supporters, unable to secure accommodation, resorted to sleeping in open fields. A party leader, insisting on the party's unity, stated, "The delegates are over 3,000 and I can tell you most of them have arrived. There is nothing like a faction in the party. Some of these things are media creations. If you are in Ibadan, you will understand what is happening." He further added, "We are ready to ensure Nigeria does not fall into a one-party state. After this convention, the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election will change. I can promise you that. Just watch out for the attendance tomorrow (today).”
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Odo Lifu, on Friday reiterated an order for the opposition party to suspend its national convention. The ruling stipulated that the 2025 convention in Ibadan should be halted until Sule Lamido is allowed to obtain the nomination form for the national chairmanship. The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or aiding the convention, emphasizing the PDP's obligation to adhere to its constitution and guidelines, particularly concerning eligible members' aspirations and the mandatory 21-day notice for conventions. This builds on an earlier ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 10, which barred the convention due to INEC's evidence of unconducted congresses in approximately 14 states.
BoT's Call for Caretaker Committee Amidst Crisis
In stark contrast, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, through Justice Ladiran Akintola, reaffirmed its November 3 interim order on Friday, mandating INEC to attend and monitor the convention as scheduled. This creates a deeply fractured legal environment for the PDP.
Amidst this judicial back-and-forth, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee has recommended the establishment of an all-inclusive caretaker committee to address the ongoing crises. The committee believes such a move is essential, warning that a convention not accepted by all stakeholders would severely undermine the party’s ability to field candidates nationwide. Factionalism has intensified since the convention's announcement, with members loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike insisting that fundamental issues, such as the conduct of congresses, must be resolved beforehand. The party is now effectively split into two camps: the Damagum group, which insists on proceeding with the convention, and the Abdulrahman Muhammed-led camp, which canceled it following the Abuja court ruling. A reconciliation report by the BoT indicated that proceeding with the convention should be contingent on clear legal standing and INEC's willingness to monitor it, noting that "a failed convention will incapacitate the party’s ability to field candidates at all levels nationally.” The committee also recommended lifting all suspension orders and fostering genuine reconciliation among all parties.
Wike Faction Insists on Cancellation, Legal Compliance
Addressing a press conference on Friday, George Turna, the PDP South-South zonal leader loyal to the Nyesom Wike faction, affirmed that many stakeholders support the reconciliation efforts and the BoT’s recommendations. He adamantly insisted that no PDP convention could lawfully proceed, citing the official statements from the acting national chairman and national secretary — the only officers empowered to issue notices — that there would be no convention anywhere in Nigeria. “That is the lawful position,” Turna declared. He stressed the party's need to return to constitutional order, achieve reconciliation, and then organize a credible convention that adheres to legal standards. Turna further argued that since Justice Omotosho’s judgment is currently before the Court of Appeal, all parties must maintain the status quo, effectively preventing the convention from proceeding. “Furthermore, Justice Lifu’s judgment today stopping the convention on the unlawful exclusion of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido strengthens this. If they proceed, they will be acting in open violation of the law,” he concluded, highlighting the profound legal and internal challenges facing the PDP.