PDP Crisis: Court Rulings Clash Over National Convention

The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to recent court rulings regarding the party’s forthcoming national convention. According to the chapter’s Chairman, Amah Abraham, a judgment from the Court of Appeal can potentially override the Federal High Court’s ruling on the convention.

In an interview on Arise Television, Abraham stated that the Federal High Court’s decision, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, took precedence over a separate ruling by a High Court in Oyo State. The Federal High Court had stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the 2025 National Convention, scheduled to take place on November 15 in Ibadan.

However, the Oyo State High Court subsequently ordered the PDP and its National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention. Abraham emphasized that the Federal High Court’s judgment should supersede the state high court’s ruling, citing the need for adherence to the rule of law and due process.

Abraham also noted that he, along with thousands of PDP members, had subscribed to the Federal High Court’s judgment and would not participate in any congress that did not follow the proper procedures. Specifically, he mentioned that congresses had not taken place in certain states, and these should be held before the national convention.

The conflicting court rulings have created uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s national convention. The party is expected to clarify its position and determine the next steps in accordance with the relevant judgments. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Court of Appeal’s potential intervention will impact the outcome of the convention. The developments are being closely watched, given the significance of the PDP’s national convention in Nigeria’s political landscape.