Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its national convention, ruling that the event cannot go ahead until former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, is allowed to obtain a chairmanship nomination form.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the PDP had violated its own constitution and internal guidelines by refusing Lamido the opportunity to purchase the form.
According to the judge, a political party “is bound to obey its own constitution,” stressing that this principle exists “to avoid illegality.”
Justice Lifu noted that Lamido told the court he visited the PDP national secretariat on October 27 to buy the form but was turned back — even though the window for obtaining nomination forms was still open until 14 days before the convention.
The court also referenced an exhibit in which the party’s consensus candidate reportedly remarked that “…how we got the form is immaterial…” as long as the sales window had closed. The judge said the tone of that statement clearly indicated that the process of obtaining the nomination form was “irregular and not transparent.”
In his ruling, Justice Lifu ordered the PDP to ensure that all eligible members — including Lamido — are given a fair chance to seek the chairmanship position.
He directed that the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 be put on hold until Lamido is fully accommodated and allowed to exercise his constitutional rights. The court further restrained INEC from monitoring, supervising, or recognising the outcome of the convention until the party complies with the order.
