Court stops PDP national convention as Justice Peter Lifu rules in favour of Sule Lamido, citing party division and potential constitutional violations
Court stops PDP national convention as the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party from proceeding with its planned gathering, pending the hearing of a substantive suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Also read: PDP National Convention Hearing Adjourned Again
Delivering the ruling, Justice Peter Lifu also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring or recognising the outcome of the proposed convention until the case before the court is resolved.
Justice Lifu held that Lamido’s application was “meritorious” and that allowing the PDP to go ahead with the event could cause the applicant irreparable harm.
He said, “It would be in the interest of justice to grant this preservative order. If the PDP is allowed to proceed, the applicant will suffer greater damage.”
The ruling effectively halts the PDP’s planned national convention, scheduled for 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, Oyo State, as the court continues to consider the substantive arguments in Lamido’s case.
Lamido, through his counsel Jeph Njikonye (SAN), had asked the court to restrain the party, arguing that going ahead with the convention would violate the PDP’s constitution and unfairly deny him the opportunity to contest for the office of national chairman.
Earlier, on 31 October, Justice Lifu had declined to issue the interim order immediately, instead directing the PDP and INEC—listed as the first and second defendants—to show cause within 72 hours why Lamido’s application should not be granted.
Both defendants subsequently filed their responses, urging the court to reject Lamido’s motion. However, after reviewing the arguments on Tuesday, the court ruled in Lamido’s favour and fixed the substantive matter for hearing later in the day.
The latest ruling adds to the growing turbulence within the PDP, already divided by leadership disputes between the factions of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Also read: Sule Lamido Declares Bid for PDP National Chairman
Political observers say the injunction could further deepen the opposition party’s internal crisis, which has seen multiple court interventions in recent weeks.
