By Deborah Nnamdi
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the go-ahead to hold its planned elective National Convention on November 15 and 16, 2025.
In a ruling delivered by Justice A. L. Akintola, the court granted an interim order permitting the PDP to proceed with the convention as scheduled in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor, and observe the exercise pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.
The order followed an ex parte application filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Umaru Fintiri (representing the National Convention Organising Committee), and INEC.
Adelabi had urged the court to restrain the defendants from truncating or frustrating the convention timetable and other preparatory activities.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola held that the claimant had shown sufficient grounds for urgent judicial intervention.
“The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed,” the judge ruled.
He subsequently granted all interim orders sought, restraining any interference with the PDP’s schedule and compelling the defendants to proceed with the national convention as planned. The case was adjourned to November 10, 2025, for the hearing of the substantive motion.
The order, dated November 3, 2025, was issued under the seal of the Oyo State High Court and signed by the Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed.
The ruling contrasts sharply with a recent judgement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which halted the PDP’s 2025 National Convention until the party complies with its constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Omotosho also restrained INEC from accepting any report from a convention not conducted in line with due process.
Reacting to the Abuja court ruling, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the judgment as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process,” insisting that it does not prevent the party from continuing its preparations for the convention. He confirmed that the party’s legal team has been directed to appeal the judgment.
Meanwhile, the leadership crisis within the opposition party deepened on Monday as heavy security was deployed around the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. Former North Central Vice Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, resumed as acting national chairman following the suspension of Umar Damagum and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, by a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The move came amid escalating internal conflicts, with rival factions led by Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu issuing parallel suspension orders against each other and several principal officers.
As both factions continue to lay claim to the party’s leadership, the latest Oyo court ruling adds a new twist to the PDP’s already fraught path toward its November convention.
