By Muhammed Akindele
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the ruling of an Oyo State High Court that approved the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo High Court had on Monday granted an ex parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi in suit number I/1336/2025, allowing the PDP to proceed with its convention as scheduled. The case was adjourned till November 10 for hearing the motion on notice.
However, the ruling contradicts last Friday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the PDP from holding the same convention.
In the Abuja case, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ordered the PDP to suspend its planned convention until it complies with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved party members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (South-South PDP Secretary).
Justice Omotosho also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or accepting the outcome of any convention not conducted in accordance with due process and the law.
In contrast, the Oyo court’s interim order directed the PDP and its national officers, including National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (as Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee), and INEC — to proceed with the Ibadan convention. The court also instructed INEC to attend and monitor the exercise in compliance with the Electoral Act.
The certified true copy of the order, signed by Principal Registrar S. O. Hammed, was issued in Ibadan on November 3, 2025.
Reacting to the development, Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant, Lere Olayinka, faulted the Oyo order, insisting that the Abuja judgment takes precedence.
“Are you unaware of the Federal High Court judgment delivered on Friday?” Wike asked. “A judgment is superior to an ex parte order that expires in seven or fourteen days. Is the High Court in Ibadan an appellate court? How can an order override a judgment?”
Fresh PDP Power Tussle
In a related development, factional National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, has announced the suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and four other national officers over alleged anti-party activities.
In a letter to INEC dated November 1, 2025, and titled “Resolution of the National Working Committee at its 608th Emergency Meeting”, Damagum said the suspended officers had been referred to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
The suspended officers include Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, and Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha.
The letter, signed by Damagum, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, and 12 other NWC members, stated that the affected officers will cease to perform their duties for one month, while their deputies will act in their stead.
The development followed Monday’s takeover of the PDP national secretariat by Deputy National Chairman (North), Mohammed Abdulrahman, who declared himself acting national chairman with the backing of Wike and some loyalists.
‘Governors to Blame for PDP Crisis’ — Osadolor
Meanwhile, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, blamed the party’s ongoing crisis on the indecisiveness of its governors, accusing them of abandoning their leadership responsibilities.
“It is leadership failure on the part of the governors that has caused many of these issues,” Osadolor said. “Except for Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, most governors are neither here nor there in party affairs.”
He also described the suspension of Anyanwu as “null and void,” saying the procedure for suspending a member of the National Working Committee was not followed.
While praising Damagum as a “good administrator,” Osadolor accused the governors of hijacking the party’s leadership. “If the governors give Damagum free hand to run the party, the PDP would not be in crisis,” he said.
