A fresh crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as two separate court pronouncements have restrained the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding or monitoring the planned Ibadan convention.
Despite these clear judicial orders, the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement on Wednesday, insisting that the convention would proceed as planned, a stance that has further heightened internal tension and drawn backlash from some
Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman and one of the three petitioners who approached the Federal High Court to stop the convention, cautioned the national leadership against disobeying the court’s decisions.
He warned that any act of defiance would amount to contempt of court and could attract serious consequences.
“The courts are there; the government of the courts is there. So, whoever infringes on the court’s orders, the courts know the appropriate sanctions and consequences,
He explained that the restraining orders came from two separate courts, both of which directed the PDP to suspend its convention plans until the pending internal disputes are properly resolved.
“There are two court pronouncements, one judgment and one interim order. On Tuesday, Justice Lifu granted an interim order that will remain in effect for seven days, pending the judgment he will deliver on Friday. That order restrains the PDP from holding the convention and also restrains INEC from monitoring it
According to Nwachukwu, an earlier ruling delivered by Justice Omotosho on October 31 had already directed the party not to proceed with the convention or allow INEC to participate until all contentious issues from its congresses were settled.
“Justice Omotosho also gave a judgment that PDP should not hold the convention and that INEC should not witness it until they have put certain things in place, the areas where there are issues from congresses and all that,” he added.
The Imo PDP chairman expressed surprise that the national leadership would still insist on going ahead with the event despite two binding court orders, describing such a move as a deliberate breach of the law.
So why would they still want to go and do the thing? If they do, they do so in full knowledge of the law and its consequences,” he asserted.
Some party insiders say the development reflects growing unease within the party hierarchy, as divisions widen between the national working committee and certain stakeholders, including state chapters that are pushing for reforms and reconciliation before any national gathering is held.
With Justice Lifu expected to deliver his final judgment on Friday, attention is now fixed on the PDP leadership to see whether it will comply with the existing court orders or proceed with the Ibadan convention in defiance, a move that could further fracture the party ahead of upcoming off-cycle polls in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2027 general elections.
