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Abuja court issues restraining order as crisis deepens ahead of party’s convention.
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Wike-linked officials move to block leadership transition over alleged illegality.
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Screening of aspirants halted indefinitely as legal tension paralyses preparations.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order while ruling on a motion filed by three PDP officials — Mr Austine Nwachukwu, Chairman of the party in Imo State; Mr Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia State Chairman; and Mr Turnah George, South-South Secretary — seeking to determine whether the planned convention was in violation of the party’s constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
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The plaintiffs, who are believed to be political allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, argued that the party failed to conduct valid congresses in at least 14 states, insisting that such lapses invalidate the planned convention.
In a statement filed before the court, their counsel maintained that the case cannot be dismissed as an internal party affair, stressing that the party’s non-compliance with the law was a fundamental breach requiring judicial intervention.
However, the PDP countered that the lawsuit is an attempt to destabilise its internal transition process, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction over internal party matters.
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The party described the plaintiffs’ claims as politically motivated and intended to frustrate a legitimate leadership process.
Daily Report Nigeria gathered that the legal crisis has further complicated internal disputes within the party.
The National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, recently petitioned security agencies, alleging that his signature was forged on documents sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to notify it of the planned convention. The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) have since dismissed the allegation as baseless.
Meanwhile, the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) has indefinitely suspended the screening of aspirants earlier slated for October 28, pending the court’s final ruling.
