Two prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abraham Amah and George Turner, recently faced expulsion from the party. They have now strongly condemned the Ibadan convention. Both leaders described the convention as unlawful and flawed. They assert it was held in clear violation of existing court orders.
Convention Lacked Legal Standing, Says Amah
Speaking with Sunday Punch, Abraham Amah, the Abia State PDP Chairman, stated that the entire exercise lacked legal legitimacy. This, he explained, was due to ongoing litigation.
“We have a matter in court,” Amah explained. “It has now moved to the Appeal Court. Therefore, proceeding with the convention goes against the spirit of the law and our constitution. We are not part of what they have done.”
Amah also dismissed claims that Abia State fully participated in the event. He insisted that the turnout from the state was minimal. “It is a game of democracy,” he remarked. “Out of 17 local government chairmen, only four were present. Similarly, only five of the 14 state working committee members attended. Some individuals went there solely for financial gain.”
He further criticised the convention’s decision to dissolve the Abia and Imo PDP executives. Amah called this a significant procedural blunder. “They went ahead to dissolve Abia and Imo executives,” he pointed out. “Then they invited them to come and vote, which is a blunder. By dissolving the state, members lose their right to vote.”
South-South PDP Dismisses Ibadan Gathering
George Turner, Secretary of the PDP in the South-South Zone, also rubbished the gathering. He maintained that it was not a legitimate party convention. “There is no PDP convention anywhere,” Turner stated. “Fintiri, the chairman of that social gathering in Ibadan, even announced INEC’s absence. So, it is not a convention of the PDP. When the PDP is ready with their convention, everyone will know. For now, it is good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Similarly, Enyinnaya Appolos, acting Publicity Secretary of the South-South PDP, described the event as “ill-fated.” He said it was held “in clear defiance of due process and judicial pronouncements.”
In a statement to Sunday Punch, Appolos asserted that organisers blatantly ignored two subsisting Federal High Court judgments. Instead, they relied on “an ineffectual ex parte order.” He noted that such an order, in law, cannot override valid court decisions. He added that the absence of INEC officials rendered the process “procedurally defective and legally unsustainable.”
According to Appolos, the purported convention was convened despite unresolved state congresses. It also defied explicit court orders barring such a gathering. “Every business purportedly transacted at this gathering cannot stand the test of time,” he declared. “Nor can it withstand judicial scrutiny.”
Appolos urged party members to remain calm. He assured them the matter was progressing to the Court of Appeal.
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