A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) forthcoming national convention. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to comply with the laws and conditions required for conducting the convention.
The plaintiffs—Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Nnanna and Turnah Alabh George—filed a suit against INEC, the PDP and other party officials, seeking to stop the convention scheduled for 15‑16 November in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court rejected the PDP’s argument that the plaintiffs lacked standing, noting that the case concerned INEC’s statutory duty to ensure compliance with electoral laws, not merely internal party affairs.
Justice Omotosho highlighted several procedural breaches: the PDP did not hold congresses in some states and violated the law by having its national chairman sign notices and correspondence without the national secretary’s signature. Under the PDP constitution, the national secretary is empowered to conduct party correspondence and issue notices of meetings, congresses and conventions. Consequently, the court invalidated the PDP’s 15 October National Executive meeting for failing to give proper notice, which deprived INEC of the opportunity to monitor the event.
The judge emphasized that non‑compliance with electoral laws undermines democracy and that INEC has the authority to invalidate deficient meetings, congresses and conventions. Accordingly, the court ordered INEC to refuse recognition of the planned convention’s outcome and advised the PDP to issue proper notices for congresses, signed by both the national chairman and the national secretary.
The judgment has significant implications for the PDP’s national convention and its ability to conduct internal affairs in accordance with electoral law. It reinforces the importance of regulatory compliance and the role of INEC in ensuring that political parties adhere to legal requirements. The PDP will need to revisit its convention plans and address the court’s concerns to secure a valid and recognized outcome.
Comments are closed for this story.