A High Court sitting in Oyo State has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Justice A. L. Akintola issued the directive on Monday after hearing an ex parte application filed by a party member, Folahan Malomo Adelabi.
The suit sought judicial intervention to forestall any attempt to postpone or obstruct preparations for the convention amid the PDP’s deepening leadership crisis.
The ruling comes at a time when the PDP is grappling with fierce internal wrangling, with rival factions pushing for control of the National Working Committee, NWC.
The court’s decision effectively compels the Damagum-led leadership to go ahead with the national gathering, which is expected to determine the future direction of the opposition party.
While the full details of the order will be communicated during subsequent proceedings, sources within the Oyo State judiciary confirmed that Justice Akintola granted the application to ensure compliance with the party’s constitutional timelines and to prevent further destabilisation of its structures.
The PDP has been embroiled in months-long disputes over statutory positions, suspensions, and competing claims to party authority.
Several key members—including national officers and state chapter leaders—have approached courts nationwide seeking injunctions either to halt or enforce internal decisions.
The upcoming convention is expected to address many of these festering disputes.
With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, the PDP faces intense pressure to unify its ranks, elect substantive national officers, and reposition itself as a viable opposition.
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The venue, Ibadan, has long been a political battleground and organizational hub for party activities in the South-West, making it a strategic choice for a convention aimed at rebuilding the PDP’s influence across the region.
Although the court has ordered the convention to proceed, it remains unclear how the Damagum-led leadership and rival factions will navigate their disagreements.
National Daily News
