Court clears PDP to hold national convention in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga –

A High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permission to proceed with its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025.

Justice A. L. Akintola issued the order on Monday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by a party member in the state, Mr. Folahan Adelabi. The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend and monitor the convention for the election of new national officers.

The court’s decision comes as the tenure of the current PDP leadership, under Ambassador Iliya Damagun, is set to expire next month.

Justice Akintola’s ruling came barely 72 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, restrained INEC from recognising or participating in the Ibadan convention.

However, in the Oyo State court ruling, Justice Akintola restrained the defendants — which include the PDP, its National Chairman, the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), Governor Umaru Fintiri, and INEC — from taking any step that could stop or frustrate the planned convention.

The judge said he was satisfied with the arguments and affidavit presented by the applicant, noting that the case called for the urgent intervention of the court. He added that the reliefs sought by the claimant were meritorious and therefore granted.

The claimant, Mr. Adelabi, who is vying for the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary, had asked the court to compel the party to conduct the convention as scheduled, arguing that all statutory requirements had been met.

Consequently, the court ordered the PDP’s organs to adhere to the approved timetable and guidelines, while INEC was mandated to attend and monitor the elective convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, pending the determination of the substantive motion.