The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared it will proceed with its national convention scheduled for November 15-16, despite a fresh restraining order from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The party’s leadership maintains that only the Supreme Court can override its constitutional right to manage internal affairs.
In a bold challenge to the judiciary, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi said Tuesday’s court injunction was “a waste of time,” asserting the party would not be deterred by what he termed “procured judgments.”
“We have gone too far to be asked to stop,”Abdullahi declared. “We are not a political party founded by a court of law but by Nigerians, and we are expected to listen to Nigerians, not to procured judgments. There’s no way they will stop us.”
The party’s position sets the stage for a constitutional confrontation, pitting the Federal High Court’s authority against the PDP’s interpretation of Supreme Court precedents on party autonomy.
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The latest legal obstacle came from Justice Peter Lifu, who barred the PDP from holding its convention in Ibadan and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to monitor the proceedings. The ruling favored former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who alleged exclusion from the chairmanship nomination process.
This marks the second Federal High Court injunction against the convention, following Justice James Omotosho’s October 31 ruling that cited irregularities in state congresses.
However, the PDP draws legitimacy from a contradictory November 4 order by Justice O.A. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, which authorized the convention to proceed.
Amid the judicial conflict, PDP NEC member Timothy Osadolor warned that the party might establish an interim management committee if governors continue to resist compromise.
“It’s not too late, but as the clock ticks, we may not be able to hold the convention within the stipulated timeframe,” Osadolor stated.
He particularly criticized what he called “judgment shopping” by certain governors, alleging that “this era of anyone being able to purchase or hire judgments must stop.”
While urging stakeholders to resolve the crisis within a week, Osadolor issued a stark warning: “If reasoning does not prevail in the next one week, PDP should start retooling for 2031.”
The party now faces a critical test of its institutional integrity as it navigates conflicting court orders and internal divisions, with the convention’s viability hanging in the balance just days before the scheduled event.
