A Federal High Court in Abuja has halted the planned National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any outcome that may arise from it.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to comply with key legal requirements governing the conduct of party conventions, rendering the planned exercise invalid.
According to the judge, evidence presented before the court showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation, in violation of electoral laws.
He further held that the signing of official notices and correspondences by the PDP National Chairman without the National Secretary was contrary to the party’s constitution, making such documents null and void.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the party’s failure to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before holding its meetings and congresses a legal prerequisite that allows the electoral body to monitor such activities.
He stated that the PDP’s non-compliance with the law had jeopardized the integrity of the proposed convention and advised the party to rectify the identified irregularities before proceeding with any election.
Consequently, the court restrained INEC from receiving, publishing, or recognizing the outcome of the convention, which was scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, until due process is followed.
Reacting to the judgment, PDP National Chairman, Iliya Damagun, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed their views on the court’s decision. Some members of the party, however, commended the ruling, describing it as a positive step towards enforcing internal democracy and ending impunity within the PDP.
