The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan presided over by Justice A. L. Akintola, on Tuesday, 4 November, 2025 cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its scheduled elective National Convention on Saturday, 15 November, and Sunday, 16 November, 2025 in Ibadan, the state capital.
Justice A. L. Akintola, in his ruling granted an interim order allowing the party to hold the convention as planned in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, monitor, and observe the exercise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
The ruling followed an ex-parte application filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Governor Umaru Fintiri (representing the National Convention Organising Committee); and INEC.
Adelabi, the claimant, had urged the court to restrain the defendants from truncating, frustrating, or disrupting the timetable, guidelines, and schedule of activities leading to the convention.
After hearing the motion on Monday, 3 November, 2025, Justice Akintola held that the claimant successfully demonstrated the need for urgent judicial intervention.
“The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex-parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed,” the judge ruled.
He consequently granted the interim orders sought, restraining any interference with the PDP’s timetable and schedule of activities, and compelling the defendants to hold the national convention as fixed.
Justice Akintola further adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction to November 10, 2025.
The court’s order, dated November 3, 2025, was issued under the seal of the Oyo State High Court and signed by the Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed.
On Friday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the planned 2025 National Convention of the PDP until the party complies with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act are met.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, the judge also restrained the INEC from accepting a report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.
But in a swift reaction, the opposition party rejected the court’s judgment. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the action of the court does not invalidate the party’s ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new national officers.
He described the judgment as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic processes, saying the party has directed its legal team to appeal the judgment.
