NIGERIA: Court Gives PDP Green Light To Hold National Convention In Oyo

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Oyo State High Court has cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go ahead with its elective national convention slated for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice A. L. Akintola granted an interim order allowing the opposition party to proceed with preparations for the convention without any form of obstruction. The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend and monitor the exercise, in line with the law.

The ruling followed an ex-parte motion filed by one Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chairs the National Convention Organising Committee; and INEC.

Adelabi had sought the court’s intervention to prevent any alteration or disruption of the timetable, guidelines, or schedule for the convention.

Justice Akintola, in his ruling, held that the claimant presented a “compelling case” that required urgent judicial action.

“The motion ex-parte has merit and succeeds as prayed,” the judge declared, granting temporary reliefs that safeguard the PDP’s convention schedule and directing all parties to allow the process to continue as planned.

The substantive motion for an interlocutory injunction was adjourned till November 10, 2025, for further hearing.

The interim order, issued on November 3, 2025, was officially sealed by the Oyo State High Court and endorsed by its Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed.

With the ruling, the PDP is set to hold its long-awaited national convention in Ibadan, where key party leadership positions are expected to be contested ahead of the 2027 general elections.