PDP crisis flares again as Wike’s loyalists’ suit halts national convention

By Ayorinde Oluokun with agency report

The crisis afflicting Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flared again on Friday with the halting of the national convention of the party scheduled to hold between November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State by court on Friday.

The suit was filed by Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) who were loyalists of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

However, just like with the crises, the leaders of the party are divided over their reaction to the judgment and the way forward for the party.

In its first reaction, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba described the judgment as an ‘assault on Nigeria’s democratic process’. The party also indicated that it will not stop preparations for the national convention because of the court judgment.

Ologunagba urged members of PDP across the country to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the national convention as scheduled.

He added that the party had directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal the judgment as part of the party’s “unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.”

“PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the national convention to elect new national officers to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years. Our party notes the recent judgment of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs,” he said.

“PDP, as the leading opposition party in Nigeria committed to the rule of law has, accordingly, directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country,” he said.

“Shocking, Dangerous for Nigeria’s Democratic Stability”

Toeing the same path, former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Chief Olabode George described the judgment as “shocking and dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic stability.”

He also warned that the judgment it could set a troubling precedent while arguing that political parties must be allowed to manage their internal affairs without undue judicial interference, except in clear cases of constitutional breach.

“This judgment will consume this country. It is time the judge removed his wig and gown and joined politics,” George said.

“Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration,” he added while questioning the basis of the ruling.

He insisted that INEC monitored all PDP congresses nationwide and did not raise objections or report irregularities.

“INEC is not complaining. The judge did not invite INEC officials. So why is he complaining? Does he have political interest?” he queried.

He noted that the PDP, which has existed since 1998, has a long tradition of following due process in its internal operations, including congresses and conventions.

According to him, the decision undermines party autonomy and risks weaponising the judiciary against political stability in Africa’s largest democracy.

George stressed that resolving internal disputes through established party mechanisms remains fundamental to democratic development.

He urged PDP members to remain calm and committed to lawful processes while pursuing legal remedies to overturn the ruling.

‘Court has allowed justice to prevail’

On the contrary, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the judgement marked an end to impunity, he received it with mixed feeling.

He said while the ruling stands as one of the happiest days of his life it is also the saddest because of how unsettled the party is. Wike spoke in company of former governors of Benue and Abia states, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu, federal lawmakers and State lawmakers and some PDP party state chairmen among others.

“We are happy that we have fought impunity, while on another part we are not happy with what is going on in the party,” Wike said, while addressing some PDP concerned stakeholders from 12 states of the federation including the FCT.

“It’s unfortunate that the so-called purported national convention cannot hold, it has never been bad like this in the Peoples Democratic Party.”

“Opposition party is supposed to put heads together and follow due process but if you are not doing that then you are sending a wrong message,” he stated.

The FCT Minister urged them not to relent in their effort in standing by the truth

“The last time we met we said we are going to challenge any action that contravenes provision of the party, and today by the grace of God, the court has allowed justice to prevail.

“Nobody will be intimidated we will do what is right. what I expect the governors to do now is to use monies in the state to impact lives of citizens and not to use it to kill our party,” he added.

Stop the National Convention

The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Friday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring or recognising the outcome of the PDP national convention.

Justice James Omotosho, in the judgment, held that the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of the convention.

The ruling followed a suit alleging that the party failed to comply with the 1999 Constitution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and its own constitution while preparing for the event.

Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had filed the suit.

They had sued INEC, PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as 1st to 6th defendants.

Others joined in the suit are Umar Damagum, the PDP National Chairman; Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi as 7th, 8th and 9th defendants respectively.

Justice Omotosho held that the PDP did not conduct valid state congresses before planning to elect new national officers, adding that such lapses undermined internal democracy.

The order effectively stalls preparations for the opposition party’s leadership renewal, raising concerns about its internal cohesion and readiness for future national elections.