It sets a deadline of October 31 for a ruling in a lawsuit to halt the 2025 PDP National Convention.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned October 31 for ruling in a complaint seeking to halt the 2025 National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party PDP on grounds of violations of the party’s bylaws.

After hearing arguments for and against the lawsuit brought by three irate party members, Justice James Omotosho set the date for Tuesday.

The case was started by Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), and Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman).

On the grounds of violating the party’s constitution, they filed a lawsuit to halt the PDP’s planned November 15–16, 2025, National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new National Officers are anticipated to be chosen.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s national secretary, Umar Baturrle, the party’s national organising secretary, the NWC and NEC, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi are the nine defendants.

During Tuesday’s hearings, Justice Omotosho reiterated that none of the parties to the suit may disregard his order to maintain the status quo with regard to the Convention.

The judge insisted that he would not think twice about overturning any action done by any of the parties while the case was pending.

Joseph Daudu SAN, who represented the three members who felt wronged throughout the hearings, sought the court to compel adherence to the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP Constitution rather than treating the plaintiffs’ grievances as party internal issues.

The senior attorney contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is required by the Nigerian Constitution to oversee political party congresses before they can be deemed legitimate.

According to him, the three members who felt wronged had complained that no legitimate congress had been held in any of the 14 states prior to the PDP NWC and NEC sending out notices for the convention on November 16 and 17.

On the grounds that matters pertaining to the Convention and Congress are party internal matters, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, the party’s acting national chairman, requested that the judge deny jurisdiction. He was represented by Paul Erokoro SAN.

Eyitayo Jegede SAN, who represented the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC), agreed with him that courts have no right to investigate a party’s internal matters.