The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the ruling of an Oyo State High Court that approved the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) proposed national convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Ladiran Akintola, granted an ex parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi in suit number I/1336/2025, allowing the PDP to proceed with the convention. The case was adjourned to November 10, 2025, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
However, the Oyo judgment stands in direct contradiction to an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which last Friday restrained the PDP from holding its convention pending compliance with internal and legal procedures.
In that case, Justice James Omotosho, presiding over suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, ordered the party to suspend preparations for the convention until it aligned with its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The Abuja suit was filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
Justice Omotosho directed the PDP “to go back and put its house in order” and issue the statutory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before proceeding with any national convention.
Reacting to the conflicting rulings, Wike dismissed the Oyo State court’s decision as legally untenable, insisting that the party could not “pick and choose” which judgment to obey. He maintained that the Abuja order remained binding until vacated by a competent court.
The development has further deepened the internal divisions within the PDP, already split between factions loyal to Wike and those aligned with acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
