Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has expressed disappointment over being forced to take the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to court due to his exclusion from the party’s 2025 national convention. Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that despite a restraining order being issued against the PDP, he felt sad about taking the matter to court.
The former governor has a long history with the PDP, which led to his election as Governor of Jigawa State and his appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister. He claimed that as a bona fide member of the party, he was denied the opportunity to purchase the national chairmanship nomination form. Lamido decided to seek justice through the court, emphasizing the importance of fairness within the party.
On Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the PDP from holding its 2025 National Convention, scheduled for November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising or recognizing the outcome of the convention. The judge’s decision was based on the party’s failure to comply with relevant laws and conditions for conducting such conventions.
The judge noted that the timetable for the convention was not published as required by law, and the balance of convenience tilted in favor of Lamido, who would suffer more if unlawfully excluded from the convention. To address this, the judge ordered the PDP to halt the convention and instructed INEC not to supervise or recognize the outcome of any convention that may be organized.
This development comes after another judge, James Omotosho, issued similar orders on October 31, stopping INEC from supervising or recognizing the outcome of the convention due to the PDP’s failure to follow due process. The matter has been adjourned until November 13 for judgment. The court’s decision highlights the importance of upholding democratic principles and following the rule of law in party conventions. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the PDP and its upcoming national convention.