The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is free to move forward with its scheduled National Convention on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan. This decision follows an ex parte motion granted by an Oyo State High Court, but the ruling has immediately drawn a scathing rebuke from former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
Justice Ladiran Akintola, who presided over the Ibadan court, issued the order on Monday. The ruling was granted in favor of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, who had sought to prevent any attempt to frustrate the party’s planned convention.
The suit listed a formidable array of defendants, including the PDP itself; its Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum (representing the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee); Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (representing the National Convention Organising Committee); and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his ruling, Justice Akintola granted all the interim orders requested, explicitly barring the defendants or their agents from truncating or frustrating the conduct of the convention. Furthermore, the court directed the PDP leadership to strictly adhere to the guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities previously released for the event. The party and its relevant committees were ordered to hold and convene the elective national convention as planned in Ibadan, pending the hearing and determination of the main motion on notice. The judge also instructed INEC to attend, monitor, and observe the convention in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Fayose Fires Back
Despite the court’s clear directive, former Governor Ayodele Fayose was quick to dismiss the ruling as worthless. He launched a fierce personal attack on the judiciary, characterizing the order as an “Ibadan judicial and political awada kerikeri of a hand-to-mouth-judge.”
Fayose insisted that the judge had only granted an “ineffective order that is a dead-on-arrival order.” He concluded his sharp criticism by asserting that the order is one that “no one, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can obey.” His comments immediately inject a fresh wave of controversy into the lead-up to the crucial party gathering.
