INEC Threatens To Snub PDP National Convention Over Court Injunction

Fresh reports on Friday indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will not be supervising the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention, set to hold this weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A senior INEC official involved in party convention monitoring told Saturday Punch that the commission had decided to abstain from the event in compliance with an existing court order.

“INEC will not monitor the PDP convention,” the official stated plainly.

Another top source, who requested anonymity, reiterated the commission’s position, emphasizing that INEC’s actions would be guided strictly by the law and judicial directives.

“INEC is a law-abiding institution. We will follow the FCT High Court’s orders,” the source added.

Court Orders Suspension of PDP Convention
This development comes after a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, which directed the PDP to suspend the convention.

The suit was filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who had been denied access to purchase the nomination form for the party’s national chairmanship despite having paid the requisite fee.

Justice Lifu held that excluding Lamido violated the PDP constitution and its internal rules, and he restrained INEC from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing any convention held without Lamido as a contestant.

The court stressed that the party must provide a fair opportunity for all members to pursue their political ambitions and directed that the convention be put on hold to allow Lamido to obtain his nomination form, mobilize supporters, and campaign.

“An order is hereby made that before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff,” Justice Lifu ruled.

Conflicting Oyo Court Order Adds to Confusion
The FCT High Court ruling conflicts with a judgment by the Oyo State High Court on November 3, which allowed the PDP to proceed with the convention.

Justice Ladiran Akintola, ruling on an ex parte application by PDP member Folahan Adelabi, authorized the party to continue with its plans and instructed INEC to attend and monitor the election of new national officers.