• Damagum-led NWC, BoT, state chairmen insist convention will hold
• Abdulrahman-led faction announces boycott, cites illegality
• Saraki urges suspension, warns convention will ‘deepen crisis’

With just a day to its Ibadan convention, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is trapped in a storm of conflicting court orders, intensifying legal battles, and deepening internal rifts, as senior figures urge suspension while party leaders insist the exercise will proceed in what may define the PDP’s future.

Amid the crisis, there are strong indications that the party’s leadership may opt to constitute a caretaker committee as a temporary measure to avert a total breakdown of order.

Sources within the party told The Guardian yesterday that the idea, which has been quietly canvassed by some senior stakeholders, follows concerns that proceeding with the convention might compound existing legal troubles and expose the party to further judicial invalidation.

Former Senate President and two-term governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, added a dramatic twist to the unfolding crisis yesterday when he publicly urged the PDP to shelve the Ibadan convention, warning that “going ahead will only deepen the crisis and endanger reconciliation”.

In a statement issued after a meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Team led by Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa), Saraki lamented that the convention had become “mired in extensive controversy, both political and legal”.

“As it stands, there are conflicting court orders relating to the validity of the scheduled convention,” he said. “There is no assurance that the conduct and outcome will stand. No serious politician will risk contesting on the PDP platform under such uncertain conditions.”

The former Senate President maintained that political crises are best resolved through dialogue, not litigation, and advised that a caretaker committee should be immediately established within the next two days “to steer the affairs of the party and restore confidence among members”.

“The path to true reconciliation lies in suspending the convention and creating a neutral caretaker leadership. Anything short of that is a waste of effort,” Saraki warned, insisting that proceeding with the event “will only fuel the present crisis”.

Meanwhile, the Abdulrahman-led faction of the PDP is said to be awaiting an injunction from the Court of Appeal to halt the Ibadan convention.

The faction, which has approached the appellate court for an interpretation of the ruling of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, is confident that an order will be granted before the weekend.

A senior member of the faction confided that, once the order is issued, the group expects law enforcement agencies to “swiftly enforce the court’s directive to prevent a breach of peace and ensure compliance”.

“We are not against the convention per se,” the source said, “but the process must be lawful. If the appellate court rules otherwise, the Police and DSS must step in to halt any illegality.”

Also, the faction, yesterday, directed party members to boycott the convention, describing it as illegal and not recognised by law.

The faction, backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and several National Working Committee (NWC) members, resolved at a meeting in Abuja to boycott the event, accusing the Umar Damagum-led group of “brazen disregard for valid court judgments” and “flagrant abuse of the party’s constitution.”

But the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) have dismissed the claims, describing them as a “failed attempt by the ruling APC to destabilise the opposition and impose a one-party state”.

In a statement signed by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s suspended National Publicity Secretary, the party reaffirmed that the convention will “go on as scheduled on Saturday, November 15 to Sunday, November 16, 2025, in Ibadan”.

“We urge Nigerians to disregard misleading claims being peddled by individuals recruited by the APC to create confusion,” Ologunagba said. “The PDP remains united, focused, and prepared to conduct a credible and transparent convention that will strengthen democracy.”

He assured delegates, party leaders, and international observers that all logistics and security arrangements had been finalised, describing the Ibadan convention as “a landmark democratic milestone”.

Already, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has taken on a festive air as banners, posters, and billboards flood major streets, welcoming more than 3,000 delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who is hosting the event, has personally overseen preparations at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, ensuring that logistics, security, and accommodation are in top shape.

The convention, tagged #Ibadan2025, is planned for the election of new national officers, including a National Chairman, and is expected to draw members of the Diplomatic Corps, who have confirmed attendance in a show of international solidarity for democratic renewal in Nigeria.

Observers see this year’s convention as a make-or-break moment for the PDP, which has struggled to reclaim its footing since losing power in 2015. While some party elders advocate reconciliation and restructuring, others insist the Ibadan convention offers the best opportunity to reset the opposition’s machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As one party chieftain put it last night: “Whether it ends in a caretaker committee or a new leadership, this weekend will define the soul of the PDP and perhaps the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.”

PDP state chairmen insist convention will hold as scheduled
The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairmen has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the party’s elective convention, slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, proceeds as planned.

In a statement jointly signed by the Forum Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, and Secretary, Sir Edward Percy Masha, the chairmen said all necessary preparations had been completed to elect new officers who will steer the party’s affairs for the next four years.

The Forum maintained that there was no justification for any delay and warned against attempts to frustrate or derail the process.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we, the state chairmen, have completed all arrangements to elect new officers that will pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years, and we see no plausible reason for any postponement,” the statement read in part.

The Forum also expressed displeasure over what it described as “moves to scuttle preparations” for the convention, urging members and supporters nationwide to remain calm and ignore reports suggesting that the event might not hold.

“Our members and teeming supporters are being advised to remain calm and disregard any purported plans to halt the convention. On Ibadan 2025, we stand,” the statement added.

No wrongdoing when courts differ on similar cases, says NJI Administrator
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has said there is nothing unusual about courts of coordinate jurisdiction issuing conflicting decisions, even when cases share similar facts.

Justice Adejumo, a former President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), explained that judges deliver judgments based on their individual understanding of the law and the evidence placed before them. He argued that controversies surrounding such decisions are unnecessary, as the legal system provides remedies for aggrieved parties.

He noted that even in what may appear to be the worst scenario — where two courts within the same jurisdiction issue opposing rulings — no wrongdoing is established unless there is proof of ulterior motive.

Justice Adejumo emphasised the need for the Judiciary to uphold its integrity and protect the rule of law, warning that countries without respect for the law often find themselves isolated by nations that value judicial order.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja during a media briefing ahead of the 2025 All Nigeria Judges Conference, scheduled to begin on November 17 at the NJI. More than 1,000 judges are expected to attend the event, which will provide an opportunity to review the past year, improve judicial performance, and address challenges affecting both the Judiciary and the nation.

Responding to the controversy over conflicting decisions recently issued by two Federal High Courts in Abuja and a High Court in Abuja on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention, he stressed that no court of coordinate jurisdiction is bound by the ruling of another.

“You see, in the Judiciary, respective judges give judgments according to their understanding of the law and the way they see things,” he said. “Judgment must be based on the facts as presented to the court and as provable with credible evidence.”

He added that even in countries with long-standing judicial systems, such as the United States, courts at the same level often reach different conclusions on similar matters.

Justice Adejumo said the existence of appellate courts provides a structured mechanism for resolving such disparities.

“That is why we have ladders of courts,” he said. “If two or three courts give conflicting decisions on the same subject matter, the aggrieved party may proceed to the Court of Appeal. If still dissatisfied, it goes to the apex court, whose decision finally settles the issue.”

He noted that various courts in Nigeria are established under different statutes: the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by Acts of the National Assembly, and state High Courts by laws passed by state legislatures.

While reiterating that courts are not obligated to follow the decisions of their coordinate counterparts, he cautioned that failure to follow decisions of higher courts amounts to judicial misconduct.

“It would amount to judicial rascality if, for instance, the Court of Appeal has given a ruling on a dispute and a High Court, instead of following the decision of the higher court, now gives a conflicting decision,” he said. “And, if the Supreme Court has spoken, no division of the Court of Appeal should speak differently.”

Justice Adejumo maintained that conflicting decisions at the same court level are not new and remain permissible within the structure of the Nigerian judicial system.

PDP BoT says party crisis self-inflicted, insists Ibadan convention will hold
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the turmoil currently shaking the party is self-inflicted but maintained that the national convention scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, will proceed as planned.

BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, stated this yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of the report of the BoT Reconciliation Committee.

Wabara said the PDP remains a formidable political force and is focused on repositioning itself ahead of future elections.

“It is absolutely practicable for us to go to the convention. All the organs of the party—the Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee, and the Board of Trustees—have agreed that we will proceed. Our last communiqué also made mention of it,” he said.

He, however, added that the party would obey any lawful court order that might affect the convention’s schedule.

“If we are stopped by the courts, we are a law-abiding party. We will obey the law or obey the last order, as the case may be,” he said.

Responding to claims that the BoT intervened too late, Wabara dismissed the suggestion, saying the PDP’s challenges were “self-inflicted” and driven by competing political interests.

“There is actually no crisis. All these problems we have in the PDP are self-inflicted. In politics, it’s all about interests. Some people want the party dead now so they can resurrect it in 2031 for their own purposes,” he said.

Wabara reaffirmed the BoT’s commitment to preserving the unity and survival of the party. “I am not thinking of contesting for anything. Our decisions will always be in the interest of the PDP and Nigerians. The PDP remains a party for the people,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of the BoT Reconciliation Committee, Hassan Adamu, said the panel, inaugurated on November 5, 2025, immediately began consultations with key stakeholders to ensure a smooth and credible convention.

“We have spoken to various segments of our party—the leaders, the Governors’ Forum, and others—and we have now come up with our recommendations for a hitch-free convention. It has been a challenging task, but we have done our best,” Adamu said.

Presenting the report, Secretary of the Committee and former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Oghiadomhe, said the panel held extensive engagements with major stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; members of the Governors’ Forum; the NWC; and suspended national officers.

“We met with the Minister of the FCT, the Governors’ Forum, and the NWC led by the Deputy National Chairman in the absence of Ambassador Damagum. We also met with the suspended National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, the National Organising Secretary, and the National Legal Adviser,” Oghiadomhe said.

He added that the committee also consulted former Senate President Bukola Saraki and other senior party figures before compiling its report and recommendations.

Court order, internal rifts fuel speculation of Saraki, Lamido boycott
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday visited former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, at his Abuja residence amid growing indications that both men may boycott the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Lamido is among those seeking the position of National Chairman of the PDP. His visit with Saraki comes as an Abuja Federal High Court has halted preparations for the convention, granting an interim order restraining the party from proceeding with the exercise.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order pending the determination of a suit filed by Lamido, who challenged his exclusion from contesting the national chairmanship despite procuring the nomination forms. The ruling has intensified internal tensions within the party.

Bode George dismisses calls to halt convention, warns against ‘selfish agendas’
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Bode George has rejected calls for the suspension of the Ibadan convention and the establishment of a caretaker National Working Committee. Speaking on ARISE News yesterday, George described such proposals as unnecessary and unconstitutional.

“You know, in this country, it amazes me the way people roll around purely for their selfish ends,” he said. Referring to Saraki, he added, “He set up the first committee for reconciliation. That’s quite a while. So what has he done? Telling us on the eve of the convention that we should go and form a caretaker committee. I totally disagree with him.”

George maintained that the PDP’s leadership structure remains intact and that most members of the National Working Committee support holding the convention as scheduled.

“The main party is still solidly intact. We are waiting for the ruling of the court in Ibadan. The Supreme Court has ruled that all party activities should be solved internally,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as reckless behaviour within the party, arguing that such conduct dishonours the legacy of the PDP’s founding fathers.

“What is demeaning and annoying — what I call existential imbecility — are the terrible attitudes of these people. I mean, the founding fathers, for God’s sake, will be shaking in their graves,” he said.

Reacting to claims of a purported postponement of the convention, George accused certain party members of acting outside their authority. He specifically criticised suspended National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu for allegedly releasing an unauthorised advertisement suggesting that the convention had been halted.

“A few weeks ago, they had the National Working Committee meeting, with about 19 members. Only three, out of the 19, are in the Anyanwu group. That’s why I said you hear the voice of Jacob, but the hand of Esau,” he added.