The lingering crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn as the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan ordered the party to go ahead with its national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, despite moves by certain factions to stop it.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled that the PDP must proceed with the convention as planned, warning all parties involved to desist from any act that could frustrate the exercise. The ruling followed an ex-parte motion filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, who approached the court to prevent what he described as internal sabotage aimed at derailing the party’s timetable.
The defendants in the case include the PDP National Secretariat, the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC); the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Akintola granted all interim orders sought by the claimant, directing the PDP to adhere strictly to its published timetable and guidelines. The court also ordered INEC to monitor and observe the proceedings of the convention in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The defendants or their agents are hereby restrained from truncating, frustrating, or interfering with the conduct of the PDP’s scheduled national convention in Ibadan,” Justice Akintola ruled.
The court emphasized that the claimant had shown reasonable grounds for judicial intervention, noting that the urgency of the matter warranted protection to preserve the integrity of the democratic process within the party. The case has been adjourned to November 10, 2025, for hearing on the motion on notice.
The certified true copy of the enrolment of order, issued on November 3, 2025, was signed by Mrs. S. O. Hammed, Principal Registrar of the Oyo State High Court.
While the ruling has been hailed by some as a victory for due process, it has also intensified divisions within the PDP. The party, once seen as the major opposition force capable of challenging the ruling APC, has been grappling with a series of internal conflicts, ranging from leadership disputes to regional dominance struggles.
A major flashpoint of the crisis remains the Wike-Damagum factional rivalry. Supporters of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have accused the current PDP leadership of alienating key southern stakeholders, while the NWC maintains that its actions are guided by the party’s constitution and collective interest.
Sources within the PDP revealed that some northern leaders had allegedly plotted to stall the Ibadan convention to allow time for a leadership reshuffle that would favor their bloc. However, the court’s directive to proceed with the event appears to have neutralized those plans at least temporarily.
Several party chieftains have expressed concern that the unresolved rifts could affect the PDP’s readiness for the 2027 general elections, warning that if reconciliation fails, the party risks further fragmentation and defections to other political platforms.
Reacting to the development, Nyesom Wike welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as “a reminder that no one is bigger than the law.” Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Wike said the judgment reinforces the need for discipline, transparency, and respect for party procedures.
“What happened in Oyo is a lesson for all of us. You cannot hold the party hostage. The PDP belongs to the people, not to a few individuals who think they can manipulate the process,” Wike stated.
He urged party members to see the ruling as an opportunity to rebuild unity ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that only a cohesive and focused PDP could present a credible challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In contrast, some loyalists of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, expressed reservations, arguing that the timing of the convention could worsen internal disputes if sensitive issues such as zoning, leadership rotation, and reconciliation were not fully addressed before the meeting.
Meanwhile, the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Council (NEC) are expected to meet before the Ibadan convention to deliberate on compliance with the court order and potential steps toward conflict resolution.
Political analysts say the outcome of the Ibadan convention could determine the party’s future direction, including whether it can recover from internal fractures or continue its descent into political obscurity.
For now, Justice Akintola’s ruling stands as both a legal victory for party democracy and a stern warning to political actors seeking to manipulate internal processes for personal gain.
