PDP govs gather in Ibadan as party pushes ahead with convention despite court order

Four governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) converged on Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday as the party pressed forward with preparations for its national convention—despite a fresh Federal High Court ruling temporarily halting the exercise.

According to the PDP South-West Chairman, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, the governors who arrived in the state include Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo.

The PDP has been enmeshed in a prolonged internal feud pitting allies of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, against the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, over the legality of the convention.

Tensions escalated after former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, went to the Federal High Court in Abuja claiming he was unjustly denied access to purchase the party’s national chairmanship nomination form.

Justice Peter Lifu, ruling on the suit on Friday, directed the PDP to suspend the convention. He equally barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising any convention held without Lamido’s inclusion on the ballot. The judge held that the evidence showed the former governor was denied a fair opportunity to contest.

As part of the consequential orders, Justice Lifu insisted the PDP must first make the nomination forms available to Lamido and allow him time to mobilise and campaign before any convention is held. A similar order had earlier been issued by the same judge on November 11.

Lamido had argued through his counsel, Jephthah Njikonye (SAN), that the party would be violating its own constitution if it proceeded with the convention while denying him access to contest. Justice Lifu upheld this argument, echoing an earlier ruling delivered by Justice James Omotosho on October 31, which also stopped the convention and restrained INEC from participating.

However, the Oyo State High Court issued a conflicting directive on November 3, giving the PDP clearance to go ahead. Justice Ladiran Akintola, ruling on an ex parte application, authorised INEC to monitor the Ibadan convention.

Responding to the Abuja ruling, Ajisafe said party leaders were unaware of any new court order.
“We’re not aware of any fresh court ruling… The convention will hold. Nothing will stop it because we are obeying the Ibadan High Court ruling,” he said, adding that preparations were “98 per cent” complete.

Delegates were already trooping into the venue by Friday night, dancing to traditional drummers as last-minute arrangements were rounded off. Delegations from across the federation, including Lagos, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Delta, were sighted. Security around the venue was reinforced with the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier.

INEC opts out
Despite the bustle at the convention grounds, INEC sources said that the commission would not monitor the exercise.

“INEC will not monitor the PDP convention,” a senior official said. Another official added, “INEC is law-abiding. We will obey the FCT High Court.”

Attempts to reach several senior INEC officials for clarification were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Lamido urged the party to comply with the Abuja court ruling, arguing that its refusal to sell him the nomination form triggered the chaos.

He said, “We had 14 governors, but now we have only three remaining… The problem came from the governors because they are eroded with their own notion that they are now in charge.”

Lamido added that attending the convention would amount to undermining the legal protection he had obtained.
“If I go to the convention, it will mean whatever I got in has been washed away. So, I can’t go there,” he said, alleging that some governors wanted “somebody they can control.”

(PUNCH)