The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from holding its national convention in Ibadan, ruling on Friday that the event cannot proceed until former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido is allowed to enter the race for National Chairman.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter, held that the PDP violated its own rules by refusing Lamido access to the nomination form.
He said the evidence presented clearly showed that the plaintiff was excluded from the process in a manner inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
The judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from monitoring or recognising any convention held without Lamido’s participation.
The court added that Lamido must be given sufficient time to prepare for the contest, including the opportunity to mobilise his supporters.
Issuing the consequential orders, Lifu declared: “Before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff. In the light of the above, it is hereby held that the convention be put on hold for the plaintiff to obtain a nomination form, campaign and mobilise supporters.”
Lamido had earlier approached the court through an ex parte application, arguing that failing to stop the convention would deny him the right to contest a position he insists he is fully qualified to seek. His counsel, Jephthah Njikonye (SAN), maintained that the party’s actions amounted to an unlawful restriction of his political rights.
Justice Lifu noted that the fresh ruling aligned with a previous decision of Justice James Omotosho delivered on 31 October 2025, which also halted preparations for the convention and restrained INEC from participating.
He said he found no reason to depart from that earlier judgment.However, a conflicting order emerged from the Oyo State High Court, where Justice A. L. Akintola granted approval for the PDP to proceed.
Acting on an ex parte motion filed by PDP member Folahan Adelabi, the court in Ibadan directed INEC to monitor the election of new national officers.
The contradictory rulings leave the opposition party in a tight legal corner as both matters continue before the courts.
