The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 31, 2025, as the date to deliver judgment on a lawsuit seeking to halt the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) upcoming national convention.

The lawsuit was filed by three plaintiffs who are seeking to stop the convention scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. They claim the PDP failed to follow its own constitutional requirements.

The defendants in the case include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP itself, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Baturrle, and several party officials including Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Omotosho reiterated his earlier order that all parties must maintain the status quo. He warned that any violation would make subsequent actions taken during the case null and void.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the case was not merely about internal party affairs but about compliance with Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP’s own constitution.

Daudu stated that INEC has a constitutional mandate to monitor political party congresses for them to be valid. He maintained that no valid congresses were conducted in 14 states before the PDP leadership issued notice for the convention.

However, Acting PDP Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, represented by Paul Erokoro (SAN), asked the court to decline jurisdiction, insisting that conventions and congresses fall strictly within a party’s internal affairs and should not be subject to court interference.

This position was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), representing the NWC and NEC, who told the court that “courts cannot inquire into the internal affairs of the party.”

The case continues to highlight the tension between internal party democracy and external legal oversight in Nigeria’s political system.