A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, over breaches of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
The court ruled that the PDP failed to comply with key provisions of the law, including conducting valid state congresses before the convention. The judge, Justice James Omotosho, also faulted the party for failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before convening meetings and congresses.
“The PDP’s failure to issue valid postponement notices for congresses in affected states rendered the process arbitrary and invalid,” the judge said. “The party is not entitled to hold a national convention until proper congresses are conducted in line with the law.”
The court also restrained INEC from accepting the results of any congress conducted in breach of electoral regulations. The PDP has been directed to issue fresh notices for congresses, jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary, as required by law.
The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, who alleged that the party failed to comply with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, INEC guidelines, and its own constitution.
