Fresh Court Order Throws PDP Convention Into Chaos.

PDP.

The lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday as the Federal High Court in Abuja issued another order halting the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday.

The order followed a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor and PDP founding member, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who challenged his exclusion from the national chairmanship contest.

Granting his request, Justice Peter Lifu stopped the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with the convention until the case is fully determined.

Lamido, while reacting to the ruling, said he felt deeply saddened by the development, adding that his action was not against the PDP but to protect fairness and internal democracy.

“In this case, if my party loses, I also lose,” Lamido said. “When brothers fight, the trust is broken and the bond of brotherhood is lost.”

The Abuja ruling marks the second time in recent days that a court has stopped the PDP from holding its convention. Meanwhile, an Ibadan High Court is expected to rule today on another case seeking to allow the event to proceed as scheduled.

Justice Lifu ruled that proceeding with the convention would cause greater harm to the former governor. He stated that the PDP failed to properly publish its timetable and schedule for the convention as required by law.

He emphasised that “due process must be followed in a constitutional democracy,” adding that the court must ensure justice is done without fear or favour.

Lamido had argued that the party’s refusal to sell him the chairmanship nomination form violated its constitution and deprived him of his right to contest. He also pledged to pay damages if the court later finds his action frivolous.

The judge’s order also restrained INEC from recognising or monitoring any activity related to the proposed convention until the case is resolved.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till tomorrow for judgment after listening to final arguments from Lamido’s lawyer, Jeph Njikonye (SAN), and other senior advocates representing the PDP and the joined parties.

This development came barely days after Justice James Omotosho, also of the Federal High Court in Abuja, stopped the PDP from conducting the same convention following a case by the Wike/Anyanwu faction, which claimed the process breached both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

In a separate suit, an Ibadan High Court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola had on November 5 issued an ex-parte order restraining Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the National Convention Organising Committee from suspending the convention.

The claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, had asked the court to prevent PDP officials, including Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, from frustrating the event.

Justice Akintola, in his ruling, directed the party to strictly follow its timetable and urged INEC to monitor the process. However, when the matter came up again on Monday, he declined to vacate the order and directed parties to return for hearing today.

Reacting further, Lamido said it was painful to take legal action against a party he helped build but maintained that his move was necessary to ensure justice.

“I have been part of this party since its inception,” he said. “I served as governor and minister under the PDP. It is unfortunate that I had to go to court, but I was left with no other choice after I was denied a fair chance to contest.”