Again, Court Stops PDP National Convention Over Sule Lamido’s Exclusion
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been ordered to halt its planned national convention following a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which held that former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido must be given the opportunity to contest for the party’s national chairmanship position.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling, directed the PDP to allow Lamido to purchase the nomination form, undergo screening, and participate fully in the chairmanship contest before any convention can be held. The court stated that excluding him from the process violated his rights as a party member and undermined internal democratic procedures.
The suit was filed by Lamido after he claimed that the PDP unjustly denied him access to the nomination form, effectively shutting him out of the race.
The court agreed that proceeding with the convention without addressing his complaint would cause him undue harm.
Justice Lifu also cited irregularities in the party’s preparation for the convention, including concerns over inadequate publication of the timetable and alleged procedural lapses.
In a further directive, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to monitor, supervise, or recognise any convention conducted in defiance of the ruling.
This effectively places the PDP’s national exercise on hold until the party complies with the court’s conditions.
The ruling compounds the internal tensions already troubling the PDP, as several conflicting legal interpretations and factional disputes continue to unsettle preparations for the convention.
While some members feared the legal setback would deepen the crisis within the party, others welcomed the judgement as necessary to strengthen fairness and transparency in the leadership selection process.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing, and the PDP is now expected to review its convention timetable as it navigates yet another legal hurdle in its quest to stabilise its national leadership.
