Court Freezes Decision In Controversial PDP Convention Suit Filed By Lamido

Judgment in the case filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, challenging his exclusion from contesting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship, was stalled on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Peter Lifu, who was expected to deliver the verdict, did not sit as scheduled. Instead, the court registrar informed Lamido and all parties involved that the judgment was “not ready” and that a new date would be communicated in due course.

This development follows the court’s decision two days earlier to restrain the PDP from holding its planned national convention pending the resolution of Lamido’s substantive suit.

In the earlier ruling on Tuesday, the court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any outcome of the convention.

Justice Lifu had ruled that Lamido’s application was meritorious, noting that the PDP failed to publish the convention timetable as required by law. He emphasized that “the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicant,” warning that Lamido would suffer irreparable harm if unlawfully excluded from the race.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel for Lamido, Jeph Njikonye, SAN; PDP’s lawyer, Omokayode Dada, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing joined parties; and INEC’s counsel all adopted their written addresses and presented arguments for and against the suit.

Following the adoption, Justice Lifu had fixed November 13 for judgment—the same verdict that was postponed today.