PDP Governors Arrive Ibadan as Party Defies Court Order

PDP Governors Arrive Ibadan as Party Defies Court Order
INEC withdraws from monitoring, citing compliance with Federal High Court ruling.
Party crisis deepens as governors, chieftains and courts issue conflicting positions.

Four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party arrived in Ibadan on Friday as the party moved ahead with preparations for its national convention despite a Federal High Court order suspending the exercise.

The South West chairman of the party, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, confirmed the presence of the governors of Bauchi, Zamfara, Adamawa and Oyo, noting that preparations were almost complete.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the PDP has been locked in a deepening internal crisis marked by conflicting court rulings. A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ordered the suspension of the convention after former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido challenged his exclusion from purchasing the nomination form for the position of National Chairman. The court ruled that Lamido was unjustly denied the opportunity to contest and directed the PDP to allow him obtain the form and campaign before any convention could hold. Justice Lifu’s ruling affirmed an earlier judgment issued on October 31 that halted the convention and restrained INEC from monitoring it.

However, a High Court in Oyo State issued a separate order permitting the PDP to proceed. Justice Ladiran Akintola directed INEC to attend and monitor the exercise, creating a direct legal conflict that has added to tensions within the party.

Despite the Abuja ruling, party leaders in Ibadan insisted the convention would go on. Delegates from several states had already arrived, with traditional drummers entertaining party members at the venue. Heavy security was stationed at the entrance, and more delegates continued to arrive late into the night.

INEC, however, signalled its intention to boycott the convention. Senior officials said the commission would comply with the Abuja court ruling and therefore would not monitor the exercise.

Sule Lamido, speaking on television, asked the PDP to obey the latest court judgment. He blamed party governors for the current crisis, accusing them of dominating the party’s structure and ignoring established procedures. Lamido insisted he would not attend the convention, saying doing so would contradict the court order that restored his rights.

Party chieftains Bode George and Nyesom Wike also clashed publicly over the validity of the conflicting court orders. George maintained that Lamido did not follow due process in obtaining the form, while Wike argued that an ex parte order from Ibadan could not override an earlier substantive judgment from the Abuja court.

As the party prepares to proceed under divided leadership, concerns continue to grow that the deepening crisis may further weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.