By Peter Salami
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed indefinitely the screening of aspirants for its 2025 elective national convention, earlier scheduled for Monday, October 28.
Chairman of the party’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, announced the postponement yesterday in Abuja, citing unforeseen circumstances.
“The NCOC regrets any inconvenience caused by this postponement. All aspirants and members of our party should note the foregoing and be guided accordingly,” Fintiri said in a statement. “A new date will be communicated in due course. The committee remains committed to delivering a credible, hitch-free national convention on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.”
The postponement comes amid ongoing internal disputes within the opposition party, including a pending court case and reported disagreements among some national officers.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31 to deliver judgment in a suit seeking to stop the PDP from holding its national convention. The suit was filed by some state officers of the party: Austine Nwachukwu (Imo), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia), and Turnah George (South-South secretary), who are believed to be allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the planned convention and are seeking a restraining order against it. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature are among the defendants.
During last Tuesday’s hearing, counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it concerns the party’s internal affairs and falls outside judicial jurisdiction. He also accused the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, of acting contrary to the National Working Committee’s (NWC) directives by filing a counter-affidavit without authorisation.
“The NWC has taken a decision that they cannot count on his impartiality in this matter,” Uche told the court. “He is a defendant himself and therefore lacks the capacity to represent the party.”
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu (SAN), however, maintained that the case is not an internal party dispute but a constitutional issue, alleging that no proper congresses were conducted in 14 states. “The issue is whether the defendants violated the law. That makes it justiciable,” he said.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case for judgment on October 31.
Meanwhile, former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has threatened legal action after being allegedly prevented from purchasing the nomination form to contest for the position of PDP National Chairman.
Lamido, who arrived at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday morning, told journalists he was denied access to the form. “I came here to buy the form for the chairmanship position, but I was denied. This is not the democracy our party stands for,” he said. “If this continues, I will have no choice but to approach the court for justice.”
The former foreign affairs minister had earlier declared his intention to run for the position via his verified Facebook page, stating he would obtain the form personally.
Party sources say the screening delay and the legal disputes have created logistical challenges for the NCOC, though officials insist preparations for the November convention remain on course.
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