Court Has Spoken!” – Sam Amadi Declares PDP Convention Fully Legal

Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has maintained that the recently concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention is valid and legally recognised, despite the wave of conflicting court orders that surfaced before the event.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Saturday, Amadi explained that the most recent court ruling issued before the convention explicitly authorised it to proceed, thereby overriding earlier contradictory injunctions.

“This convention has full legal backing,” he said. “The latest order that came in on Friday supported the convention, so it cannot be described as illegal.”

Amadi attributed the confusion surrounding the convention to what he described as the judiciary’s habit of issuing “contradictory and unnecessary” ex parte orders, which he said have worsened the PDP’s internal leadership crisis.

He noted that the trend of political actors racing to secure favourable court orders — instead of relying on party structures and internal mechanisms — has further deepened the turmoil.

The governance expert also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly abandoning its quasi-judicial duties by routinely passing responsibility to the courts. He argued that political parties are expected to submit their leadership records to INEC, which should verify and make preliminary decisions before the courts intervene.

According to him, INEC’s failure to assert this authority has contributed significantly to the party’s leadership stalemate.

Amadi also stressed that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) remains legitimate, pointing out that the available records show it has functioned for over three years and cannot be dissolved arbitrarily.

He further clarified misconceptions about the Supreme Court’s stance on party matters, explaining that the court only prohibits judges from selecting party officials — not from determining whether parties comply with their own constitutions.

Addressing the recent expulsion of prominent members such as Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose, Amadi called for strict adherence to due process. He also questioned why individuals alleged to be working with opposing political interests still remain within the party, saying internal discipline is essential for the PDP’s stability.