Judge rejects Sule Lamido’s bid to stop PDP Convention

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its upcoming national convention.

Lamido, represented by his lawyer Jeph Njikonye, had filed an ex parte motion asking the court to issue an interim order halting the PDP from proceeding with the convention pending the hearing of a motion on notice filed alongside the suit.

However, Justice Lifu declined to grant the request and instead ordered the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), listed as the first and second defendants, to appear before the court to show cause why the reliefs sought by Lamido should not be granted.

In his motion, Lamido sought two interim orders — one restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan or any other location, and another restraining INEC from monitoring or recognising the event until the court determines his motion on notice.

The former governor argued that once a case is before the court, parties are obligated to maintain the status quo to avoid rendering the court’s eventual judgment meaningless. He contended that the court has inherent powers to preserve the subject matter of a dispute pending determination.

Lamido further claimed that allowing the PDP to proceed with the convention would violate the party’s constitution and deny him a fair opportunity to contest for the position of national chairman, a post he said he is fully qualified to seek.

He argued that his application had established a prima facie legal interest that warranted the court’s intervention and that if the convention proceeds, the equitable remedy of an interim injunction would be lost.

The matter, which was the only case on Friday’s cause list, was heard in the judge’s chambers after Lamido’s lawyer presented the motion. Justice Lifu ruled that it was necessary to give the defendants a chance to respond before any restraining orders could be made.

The judge gave the PDP and INEC 72 hours from the date of service to file their responses and adjourned the case to November 6 for hearing.