Court Halts PDP Convention Again, Crisis Deepens

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened yesterday as another court order halted the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday.

The Federal High Court in Abuja granted an order sought by former Jigawa State governor and PDP founding member, Alhaji Sule Lamido, stopping the convention. Lamido said he felt heartbroken taking his party to court, but insisted he had no choice after being excluded from contesting for the position of national chairman.

“In this case, if my party loses, I also lose,” Lamido said emotionally. “When we fight as brothers, the trust is lost; the bond of brotherhood is also lost.”

The Abuja court’s ruling marked the second order stopping the PDP convention. Meanwhile, an Ibadan High Court is also set to hear another case today seeking permission for the event to proceed as planned.

Justice Peter Lifu, who granted Lamido’s request, also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring, supervising, or recognising the outcome of the proposed convention until Lamido’s substantive suit is determined.

He ruled that allowing the convention to go on would cause “irreparable harm” to the former governor, noting that evidence before the court showed the party failed to publish its timetable for members as required by law.

Justice Lifu cited a previous ruling by Justice James Omotosho, also of the Federal High Court, which had earlier stopped the PDP from holding the same convention after a suit by the Wike/Anyanwu faction alleged that the process violated both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

However, on November 5, an Ibadan High Court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola issued an ex parte order restraining the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and others from suspending the convention.

The claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, urged the court to prevent PDP leaders, including Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, from obstructing the event. Justice Akintola subsequently directed the party to adhere to its official guidelines and timetable, while instructing INEC to monitor the proceedings.

When the case came up again on Monday, Justice Akintola refused to vacate the order and instructed all parties to exchange court papers ahead of today’s hearing.

Justice Lifu, on his part, said it was in the interest of justice to grant Lamido’s request, stressing that “due process of law must be strictly adhered to” in any constitutional democracy. He adjourned judgment on the substantive case till tomorrow after hearing final arguments from all counsel, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria Jeph Njikonye for Lamido, Omokayode Dada for PDP, and Joseph Daudu for other joined parties.

Speaking to journalists, Lamido expressed regret over dragging his party to court but said he was left with no alternative after being denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form.

“I feel bad taking my party to court,” he said. “But I had to do so to seek justice. As a founding member of the PDP, I deserve to be treated fairly.”

He recalled his long service to the PDP as a former minister and two-term governor, adding that his only aim was to ensure fairness, not to destroy the party.