Four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have arrived in Ibadan, Oyo State, even as a Federal High Court order has halted the party’s planned national convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
The South-West Chairman of the party, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, confirmed to Saturday Punch on Friday that the governors of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed; Zamfara, Dauda Lawal; Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri; and Oyo, Seyi Makinde, were already in Ibadan ahead of the exercise.
The leadership presence comes amid deepening internal battles between factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and those aligned with the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
In the build-up to the event, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his exclusion from purchasing the party’s national chairmanship nomination form.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered the immediate suspension of the convention.
He further restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from “supervising, monitoring, or recognising” any convention conducted by the PDP without Lamido included as a contestant.
Justice Lifu ruled that evidence before the court proved Lamido was “denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman, contrary to the PDP constitution and regulations.”
The judge stated that the PDP had a duty to adopt measures that ensure fair participation of all members in internal democratic processes.
Issuing a consequential order, Justice Lifu declared, “Before any convention is held, the PDP is to make nomination forms available to the plaintiff.”
The order, according to the court, is to allow Lamido to obtain the form, mobilise his supporters and run his campaign.
