A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or acting on the outcome of the planned 2025 National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the opposition party failed to comply with key statutory and constitutional requirements governing the conduct of such conventions.
The court found that PDP did not hold congresses in some states of the federation, a breach which invalidated the process leading to the planned convention.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the signing of official party notices and correspondence by the PDP National Chairman alone, without the National Secretary, describing the act as a violation that rendered those documents null and void.
In addition, the judge held that the party failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before its meetings and congresses — a legal prerequisite meant to enable the commission to monitor internal party activities.
“The failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy,” Omotosho ruled, advising the party to remedy the defects before proceeding with the event.
Consequently, the court barred INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognizing the results of the convention slated for Ibadan until the party fulfills all legal obligations.