Ogona Anita
Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any outcome of the party’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025.
Delivering the ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the PDP violated key provisions of the Electoral Act and its own constitution in the build-up to the convention.
Why the Court Stopped the Convention Outcome
The court cited several procedural breaches by the PDP, including:
Failure to conduct mandatory congresses in some states.
Issuing party notices and official correspondence signed only by the National Chairman, without the National Secretary’s signature a practice the judge ruled unconstitutional.
Failure to give INEC the statutory 21-day notice before holding meetings and congresses, denying the commission its legal right to monitor.
Justice Omotosho consequently restrained INEC from “receiving, publishing, or recognising” the outcome of the convention pending full compliance with the law.
The Suit
The case was filed by three PDP members:
Austin Nwachukwu (Imo)
Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia)
Turnah Alabh George (South-South Secretary)
They argued that the party leadership was conducting the convention in violation of laid-down procedures, thereby disenfranchising members.
