Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown a major wrench into the People’s Democratic Party’s preparations for its 2025 national convention, issuing a decisive order that prevents the gathering from moving forward.
The ruling, which followed a heated legal challenge, has deepened internal party tensions and intensified debates over the PDP’s future direction.
Moreover, the judgment centres on a complaint filed by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who accused the party of blocking his bid to contest for National Chairman.
According to the court, the PDP cannot proceed with its planned Ibadan convention until Lamido is granted full access to the nomination process and allowed to purchase the required forms.
The court’s order affects the event scheduled for November 15 and 16, which was meant to usher in a new crop of national officers.
By directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay away from supervising or aiding the process, Justice Lifu effectively froze all convention-related activities.
During his ruling, the judge stressed that political parties must uphold their internal rules.
“A party thrives only when it respects its own constitution,” he declared, adding that Lamido’s exclusion violated fundamental principles of fairness and participation.
Lamido had earlier approached the court through an ex parte motion filed on October 31, arguing that the PDP’s actions risked undermining its own constitution.
His lawyer, Jeph Njikonye, urged the court to intervene, warning that Lamido would be unlawfully denied an opportunity to contest.
Although Justice Lifu initially declined an interim injunction, he instructed the PDP and INEC to explain within 72 hours why Lamido’s reliefs should not be granted before the matter resumed on November 6.
However, the court’s ruling has not dampened the insistence of PDP governors who still want the convention to move forward.
After a late-night stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, they maintained that the event remains crucial to stabilising the party.
A participant at the meeting said, “We believe the convention is essential for our recovery. Delaying it further may create more uncertainty.”
Furthermore, not everyone within the PDP establishment agrees with that approach. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the party to suspend the convention entirely and establish a caretaker committee instead.
He asserted that only a temporary leadership structure can help the PDP manage its disputes and rebuild confidence among aspirants.
Saraki, writing after a meeting with the PDP Board of Trustees Reconciliation Team, explained his stance.
“The party needs a neutral caretaker committee if it truly wants stability,” he said. “This should happen within the next two days to reassure members preparing for future elections.”
The conflicting positions from the court, governors, and prominent party figures now leave the PDP at a crossroads.
Whether the party embraces the legal directive, pushes ahead with political pressure, or adopts Saraki’s proposed caretaker mechanism will shape both its internal cohesion and its national relevance heading into a critical election cycle.