The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permission to proceed with its elective National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
Justice A. L. Akintola delivered the ruling, issuing an interim order allowing the party to continue its preparations. The court also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor, and observe the exercise pending the hearing of the substantive motion on notice.
The decision came after 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 urged the court to prevent any disruption to the party’s convention timetable and schedule.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola stated that the claimant had successfully demonstrated the need for immediate judicial intervention. “The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed,” he said.
Consequently, the judge granted interim orders restraining any interference with the PDP’s convention timetable while compelling the defendants to proceed with the event as planned. The hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction was adjourned to November 10, 2025.
The order, dated November 3, 2025, was issued under the seal of the Oyo State High Court and signed by Principal Registrar S. O. Hammed.
This ruling comes just days after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja halted the PDP’s 2025 National Convention. Justice Omotosho ruled that the party must first comply with its constitution, statutory requirements, and the Electoral Act before holding the convention. He also barred INEC from recognizing any convention outcome that failed to meet due process.
Reacting to the Abuja judgement, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba rejected the ruling, describing it as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic processes.” He emphasized that the party’s legal team would file an appeal and insisted the judgment did not invalidate ongoing preparations for the convention.
Meanwhile, tension heightened on Monday at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja as heavy security presence was noticed. Former Vice Chairman for the PDP North Central, Abdulrahman Mohammed, resumed as acting national chairman.
Mohammed addressed supporters at the party’s secretariat, confirming his assumption of office. His appointment followed a declaration by the Samuel Anyanwu-led National Working Committee (NWC), which suspended Umar Damagum and Debo Ologunagba.
Over the weekend, the PDP plunged deeper into crisis as both Damagum and Anyanwu-led factions announced counter-suspensions of top party officials. Damagum suspended Anyanwu and other NWC members, while Anyanwu’s camp retaliated by suspending Damagum, Ologunagba, and four others.
On Monday, while Mohammed and his supporters took charge at the secretariat, Damagum and loyal NWC members were notably absent, underscoring the intensifying leadership struggle within the opposition party.
What You Should Know
The Oyo State High Court’s ruling allows the PDP to proceed with its November national convention despite a contrary order from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The party remains engulfed in a leadership crisis between factions loyal to Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu. Legal battles and internal power struggles continue to threaten the convention’s smooth conduct.
