The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop its planned National Convention until the substantive suit filed by former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, is determined.
The order was given on Tuesday in a suit by Lamido challenging his inability to get the PDP Nomination Form to contest for the National Chairmanship position despite paying for the Form.
The court further ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not participate in any activities relating to the convention in Ibadan or anywhere in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Lamido had dragged the PDP before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to halt its forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CD/2229/2025, filed by his counsel, Jephthah Chikodi Njikonye (SAN), Lamido asked the court to restrain the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with or supervising the convention.
The former governor alleged that he was “unlawfully and illegally denied” access to the nomination form required to contest for the position of national chairman at the Ibadan convention.
According to him, the PDP’s actions violated the provisions of its constitution and internal guidelines, which guarantee equal opportunity for all eligible members to participate in internal elections.
Lamido contended that the convention’s planning process had excluded key stakeholders and failed to adhere to the party’s constitutional requirements.
He argued that the leadership’s decision to deny him a nomination form amounted to a breach of natural justice, insisting that the process should be halted until the anomaly is corrected.
The plaintiff is asking the court for a mandatory injunction compelling the PDP to issue him a nomination form for the position of national chairman before any convention can hold.
Lamido also urged the court to bar INEC from supervising, aiding, or recognizing any convention conducted without his participation, warning that doing so would give illegal legitimacy to an otherwise unconstitutional process.
Previously, Justice Peter Lifu, had refused to grant Lamido’s request for an interim order restraining the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with the convention.
Instead, the judge directed the two defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the reliefs sought by Lamido should not be granted.
However, on Tuesday, the Court ruled in favour of Lamido after the affected parties presented their cases
