The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected Tuesday’s ruling of an Oyo State High Court which cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
Justice Ladiran Akintola had granted an ex parte application filed by Folahan Adelabi in suit I/1336/2025, restraining the PDP leadership and other defendants from stopping or truncating the planned convention, and directing that it be held as earlier scheduled. The case was adjourned to November 10 for hearing of the motion on notice.
The order, however, directly contradicts a judgment delivered last Friday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which halted the planned convention.
In that case, Justice James Omotosho ruled in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 that the PDP must comply with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and its own internal procedures, including issuing the statutory 21-day notice to INEC, before it can hold a national convention. The judge also restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of any convention that does not follow due process.
The Abuja suit was filed by three senior PDP officials — Imo State Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, Abia State Chairman Amah Abraham Nnanna, and PDP South-South Secretary Turnah Alabh George.
However, in the Oyo ruling, Justice Akintola ordered the party, its National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Adamawa State Governor and Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri; and INEC to go ahead with preparations, and directed INEC to observe the exercise in line with the law.
The court held that the claimant had shown sufficient urgency to warrant interim protection, and commended the decision to file a motion on notice alongside the ex parte application.
But reacting, Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the Oyo order as inferior to the Abuja judgment.
He said:
“Are you unaware of the judgment of the Federal High Court last Friday? A judgment was delivered, and now a high court in Ibadan has issued an ex parte order. An ex parte order lasts for only seven to fourteen days. Is the High Court in Ibadan an appeal court? A judgment is superior to an interim order. INEC was ordered not to attend. So what convention are they talking about?”
Fresh power struggle
Meanwhile, the crisis within the PDP deepened on Tuesday as factional National Chairman Umar Damagum wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission, notifying it of the suspension of National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and four other national officers over alleged anti-party activities.
The suspensions were said to have been approved during the National Working Committee’s 608th emergency meeting held on November 1.
The suspended officers are Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and one other.
Their suspension is for one month pending further disciplinary action.
The letter stated that Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo will act as National Secretary in the interim, while directors in the legal and organisation departments will oversee activities in their units.
The development comes a day after Deputy National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, backed by Wike’s camp, assumed office at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, declaring that he was taking charge to “return power to the people.”
The letter to INEC was signed by Damagum, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, and 12 other NWC members.
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