KEY POINTS

• A court in Ibadan ruled that the PDP’s November 2025 convention was lawful and properly conducted.
• The judge dismissed objections and ordered INEC to recognize the convention’s decisions unless overturned on appeal.
• The ruling means any attempt by rival factions to hold another convention could be considered invalid.

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, was properly conducted and remains valid under the law.

Justice Ladiran Akintola delivered the judgment on Friday, stating clearly that the convention followed Nigeria’s Constitution, the Electoral Act, and all relevant legal rules. The court also granted all 13 requests brought before it by the claimant, affirming that the party acted within its rights when it organized the gathering.

Before the ruling, some party members who opposed the convention had asked the court to stop proceedings and suspend judgment. But the judge dismissed their requests, saying they lacked merit. He had earlier rejected their bid to join the case, also describing it as baseless.

The court said nothing in the law allowed anyone to block or disrupt the convention once the party had met all requirements, including giving proper notice to the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission.

Court Says Party Followed Due Process

According to the ruling, the party fulfilled every legal step required to hold a national convention. The judge explained that notifying INEC was what the law demands—not necessarily having the commission physically present at the event.

Because the PDP complied with all conditions, the court declared the convention lawful and binding. It also directed INEC to recognize and implement all decisions made at the gathering unless a higher court overturns the judgment.

The court stressed that stopping the convention would have violated members’ constitutional right to assemble and participate in party activities. It also noted that all state congresses were properly conducted and their reports submitted to INEC as required.

A lawyer in the case said the ruling settles the dispute for now and overrides an earlier judgment from another court that had questioned the convention. In legal practice, when courts of equal level give conflicting decisions, the most recent judgment usually takes precedence.