The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or acting on the outcome of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national convention scheduled for 2025.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to comply with legal requirements governing the conduct of such conventions.
The court found that no valid congresses were held in some states, as evidenced by INEC’s reports and other submissions before the court — a violation that rendered the planned convention legally defective.
Justice Omotosho also declared that any notices or correspondences signed solely by the PDP National Chairman without the National Secretary were invalid, as they contravened the party’s constitution.
Furthermore, the judge held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before conducting its meetings and congresses, thereby preventing the commission from fulfilling its oversight role as required by law.
The court concluded that the party’s non-compliance jeopardized the legality of the convention, and ordered the PDP to rectify all procedural lapses before proceeding.
Consequently, INEC was barred from receiving, publishing, or recognizing the outcome of the convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan until full compliance with the law is ensured.
