The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold its elective National Convention as scheduled on Saturday, 15, and Sunday, 16 November 2025, in the Oyo State capital.
In a ruling delivered on 3 November 2025, Justice A. L. Akintola also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor and observe the exercise to ensure full compliance with electoral laws.
The defendants in the suit included the PDP; its Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum (representing the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee); the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (for himself and members of the National Convention Organising Committee); and INEC.
The case, Suit No. I/1336/2025, was filed by Folahan Malamo Adelabi, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary. The court ordered the PDP and its officers not to truncate or frustrate the party’s guidelines, timetable, or schedule of activities for the convention.
Justice Akintola further directed Governor Fintiri, who chairs the National Convention Organising Committee, to proceed with all arrangements for the exercise. The matter was adjourned until 10 November 2025 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
A certified true copy of the enrolment order, signed by the Principal Registrar of the Oyo State High Court, Mrs S. O. Hammed, was issued in Ibadan under the seal of the court.
The ruling effectively vacates an earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had restrained the PDP from conducting the convention. That decision, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, held that the party failed to hold valid state congresses before the convention, contrary to INEC guidelines and the PDP constitution.
The Abuja case was filed by Austine Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman, Imo State), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Secretary).
With the new judgment, all legal hurdles previously threatening the PDP’s convention appear to have been cleared, allowing the party to proceed with preparations for the two-day event, which is expected to draw over 3,000 delegates, including governors, National Assembly members, statutory delegates, and other key stakeholders from across the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
