The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday declined to grant an application filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its scheduled National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The convention is meant to elect new national officers to steer the affairs of the party.
Lamido, in the motion ex parte, moved by his lawyer, Jephthah Njikonye, SAN, prayed the court to make the interim order pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling, ordered the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are defendants in the suit, to come and show cause why the ex-governor’s reliefs should not be granted.
The former governor, who is the plaintiff in the fresh suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, named the PDP and INEC as the 1st and 2nd defendants.
Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, approached the court on the grounds that he was dissatisfied with the way the convention was being organised.
In the suit, Lamido also asked the court to restrain INEC from supervising, aiding, or monitoring the convention to prevent it from receiving any legal recognition.
The former governor alleged that he was unlawfully denied the nomination form to contest for the position of national chairman at the convention.
He further claimed that the PDP failed to comply with its own constitution and guidelines in organising the exercise and did not provide equal opportunities for all eligible members, including himself, to contest.
Lamido is, therefore, seeking a mandatory injunction compelling the party to make the nomination form for national chairman available to him, as well as an order stopping INEC from recognising or monitoring any convention until he is allowed to participate.