The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has received a judicial green light from the Oyo State High Court to proceed with its national elective convention scheduled for 15-16 November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital. The ruling, handed down by Justice A. L. Akintola, came via an interim order following an ex-parte motion and directs that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attend and monitor the exercise.

What the court order says

The motion was filed by Folahan Adelabi (also reported as Malomo Adelabi) against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Umaru Fintiri (chair of the Convention Organizing Committee), and INEC. The applicant sought to restrain the defendants from altering, disrupting or truncating the timetable and guidelines of the convention.

Justice Akintola declared that the claimant had made a compelling case for urgent judicial intervention and granted the interim reliefs. The hearing on the substantive motion was adjourned to 10 November 2025.

Legal backdrop & competing court orders

Interestingly, this ruling comes amid conflicting judicial decisions. A federal high court in Abuja earlier restrained INEC from recognizing the outcome of the PDP convention, citing non-compliance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act (notably failure to hold state congresses, improper notices, etc.).2

Thus, while the Oyo State High Court has enabled the convention to go ahead, the Abuja ruling raises questions about the validity of any outcome unless the PDP resolves internal procedural issues.