Judgment Day Looms: Court To Decide PDP’s Fate On October 31 Over Convention Crisis

Justice James Omotosho announced the date on Tuesday after hearing final arguments from both parties in the case filed by three PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (South-South Secretary).

The plaintiffs are asking the court to halt the PDP’s upcoming convention slated for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are to be elected. They argue that the process violates the PDP constitution and lacks proper congresses in several states.

The nine defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Omotosho reaffirmed his earlier directive ordering all parties to maintain the status quo, cautioning that any disobedience would invalidate actions taken during the pendency of the suit.

Plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to hear the matter on its merit, arguing it concerns constitutional compliance under the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP Constitution—not merely an internal party issue.

Daudu maintained that INEC must oversee all valid congresses, asserting that none were properly conducted in 14 states before the PDP leadership announced the convention.

However, Paul Erokoro (SAN), representing Acting PDP Chairman Damagum, urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that conventions and congresses are internal party matters beyond judicial interference.

This argument was reinforced by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), representing the NWC and NEC, who told the court that “courts cannot pry into the internal affairs of a political party.”