Abuja — A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered all parties in a suit seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention to maintain the status quo pending determination of the case.
Justice James Omotosho issued the directive on Monday after PDP counsel Chris Uche, SAN, complained that the litigation was constraining the party’s preparations and sought an accelerated hearing. Warning against any step that could “jeopardise or render the subject matter nugatory,” the judge cautioned that the court would nullify any action taken in defiance of the pending suit.
“You and I… know that once a suit is filed and parties have been served, it is the law that no party should take any step in respect of such suit,” Justice Omotosho said, vowing not to entertain delay tactics. He pledged to deliver judgment “between now and the end of October,” adding that copies would be made available the same day.
The case—filed by three PDP officials: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah George (PDP secretary, South-South)—seeks to restrain the party from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are to be elected.
The court fixed next Monday for definite hearing after confirming that all parties had been duly served with processes. Justice Omotosho reiterated that any attempt to overreach the court would attract “consequential orders.”
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has been working toward the November convention amid internal disputes over leadership and zoning. Monday’s order preserves the current position of the parties while the court considers the plaintiffs’ bid to halt the exercise.
With a tight timeline set by the court, the legality of proceeding with the Ibadan convention is expected to be clarified before month’s end.
