The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permission to proceed with its National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, despite ongoing legal and leadership battles within the opposition party.
In a ruling delivered by Justice A. L. Akintola, the court issued an interim order allowing the PDP to hold the convention in Ibadan and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor, and observe the exercise pending the hearing of the substantive motion on notice.
The ruling followed an ex parte application filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Umaru Fintiri (Chairman, National Convention Organising Committee), and INEC.
Adelabi urged the court to restrain the defendants from truncating or disrupting the timetable and schedule of activities leading to the convention.
After hearing the motion on Monday, Justice Akintola held that the claimant had shown sufficient grounds for urgent judicial intervention.
“The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed,” the judge ruled.
The court therefore granted all interim orders sought, restraining any interference with the PDP’s timetable and compelling the party to hold the convention as scheduled. The hearing of the substantive motion for interlocutory injunction was adjourned to November 10, 2025.
The interim order, dated November 3, 2025, was issued under the seal of the Oyo State High Court and signed by Principal Registrar S. O. Hammed.
Conflicting Judgments Deepen PDP Crisis
The Oyo court ruling comes just days after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja halted the same PDP National Convention, ruling that the party must first comply with the Constitution, Electoral Act, and its internal guidelines before proceeding.
In that judgment, the court also restrained INEC from accepting or recognizing the outcome of any PDP national convention conducted without due process.
However, the PDP rejected the Abuja court’s ruling, describing it as an assault on internal democracy. PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the party had directed its legal team to appeal the judgment, maintaining that preparations for the convention would continue.
The ruling comes amid an escalating leadership crisis that has plunged the opposition party into deeper turmoil.
On Monday, heavy security was deployed at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja as Abdulrahman Mohammed, the party’s former Vice Chairman (North Central), resumed as Acting National Chairman.
Mohammed, backed by a faction loyal to Samuel Anyanwu, was declared acting chairman following the suspension of Umar Damagum and several members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Supporters of Mohammed gathered at the party’s headquarters, chanting solidarity songs as he addressed the crowd, confirming that he had assumed office.
In a swift counter, the Damagum-led NWC announced the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and other key officials a move immediately rejected by the opposing faction, which also suspended Damagum and Ologunagba in return.
The crisis has effectively split the PDP into two rival factions, each claiming legitimacy ahead of the convention.
As the convention date draws near, attention now shifts to how the party and INEC will navigate the conflicting court orders and the escalating power tussle between the two camps.
