Ibadan, Oyo State – November 4, 2025
In a landmark judgment that reshapes the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has cleared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold its Elective National Convention as scheduled on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, November 3, 2025, by Hon. Justice A. L. Akintola in Suit No. I/1336/2025, filed by Folahan Malamo Adelabi, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Organizing Secretary, directed that the PDP, its servants, agents, or officers must not truncate, frustrate, or in any way interfere with the approved guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities for the forthcoming convention.
Justice Akintola, in a decisive pronouncement, further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy monitors and observers to oversee the two-day convention to ensure transparency, compliance, and adherence to electoral laws.
“The Court hereby directs INEC to monitor and observe the conduct of the PDP National Convention to guarantee fairness and legality in accordance with the Electoral Act,” the ruling stated.
The judgment also authorized Rt. Hon. Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC) and Governor of Adamawa State, to proceed with all arrangements relating to the exercise without obstruction.
With this ruling, the Court has effectively removed all legal barriers that had threatened to delay the PDP’s internal electoral process, paving the way for the smooth participation of over 3,000 delegates, including governors, members of the National Assembly, party executives, and stakeholders from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Political observers described the judgment as a major victory for the PDP and a boost to internal democracy, emphasizing that the Court’s order for INEC’s involvement adds credibility and legitimacy to the process.
As preparations intensify, the stage is now set for what is expected to be one of the most significant national conventions in the party’s recent history, where key leadership positions will be contested ahead of the 2027 general elections.
