PDP Convention Dispute: Court to Rule on Lamido’s Restraining Order on November 11
The Federal High Court in Abuja will deliver its ruling on November 11 regarding former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido’s motion to halt the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention.
Justice Peter Lifu set the date following Thursday’s final submissions from all parties involved in the case. The lawsuit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, names both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
The court had previously declined to grant Lamido’s ex-parte motion for an interim order on October 31, instead directing the defendants to present their arguments against the proposed injunction.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the PDP, represented by Omokayode Dada (SAN), challenged Lamido’s assertion of being denied access to nomination forms. The party revealed through an affidavit that the nomination period had already expired before Lamido’s October 27 visit to the party headquarters. According to the PDP, the schedule for the 2025 elective national convention activities was set between September 3 and 30.
INEC’s counsel, Adamu Bello, urged the court to reject Lamido’s request, arguing that granting an interim injunction would effectively prejudge the main issues in the case. The electoral body maintained that courts should avoid interfering in political party internal affairs.
In response, Lamido’s attorney, Jeph Njikonye (SAN), criticized INEC’s stance, arguing that the electoral body should maintain neutrality as an independent umpire rather than behaving like a political party.
The case saw a new development when the court approved the joining of three PDP officials as parties to the suit: Hon Austine Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Hon Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South zone). Their lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), noted that his clients were plaintiffs in a related case where Justice James Omotosho had issued an order on October 31 restraining INEC from recognizing the PDP’s convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.
The court’s upcoming ruling will determine whether the PDP can proceed with its national convention as planned, marking a crucial moment in the party’s internal governance dispute.
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