Court Orders PDP, Damagum To Hold National Convention In Ibadan

  

Court Orders PDP, Damagum To Hold National Convention In Ibadan

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
November 4, 2025
Category: Politics / Legal

A High Court sitting in Oyo State has issued a decisive order directing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to proceed with the much-anticipated national convention scheduled for November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Justice A. L. Akintola, the presiding judge, delivered the order on Monday following the hearing of an ex parte application filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, compelling the party’s leadership to respect internal democratic processes and move forward with preparations for the convention.

This ruling comes amid mounting internal wrangling and protracted leadership disputes within the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party. Several members have been agitating for a convention to elect new national officers and reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Deepening Crisis Within the PDP

SaharaReporters earlier revealed that the PDP’s internal crisis had escalated sharply in recent days after a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and five other top officials.

According to the report, the suspension, which exposed the widening cracks within the opposition party, is allegedly tied to the power tussle involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other influential figures in the PDP’s hierarchy.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, speaking on behalf of the factional NWC, declared that the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, would now serve as the new Acting National Chairman.

“Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.
On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee,”
— Senator Samuel Anyanwu stated.

Series of Suspensions Deepen Factional Divide

In a further twist, Senator Anyanwu announced the suspension of other senior officials, accusing them of indiscipline and financial infractions.

Among those suspended were:

  • Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary – for issuing statements without party approval.

  • Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Vice Chairman (South).

  • Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Financial Secretary – for alleged financial misconduct.

  • Sulaiman Kadade, National Youth Leader.

  • Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary.

All the suspended officials, according to Anyanwu, are to appear before the PDP Disciplinary Committee to “show cause why they should not be expelled” from the party.

Concluding the briefing, the factional leadership officially announced the replacement of Damagum with Abdulrahman, claiming it was necessary to “restore credibility and order” within the opposition party’s administrative structure.

“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman,”
— Senator Samuel Anyanwu concluded.

Political Analysts React

The latest court order mandating the PDP to hold its convention has been received with cautious optimism by political analysts, who view it as an opportunity for the party to reunite its warring factions and restore internal democracy.

However, some observers warn that the leadership tussle and competing factional interests could derail the party’s preparation for 2027 if not swiftly resolved.

The Ibadan convention, therefore, represents a critical test of unity and survival for the PDP — a party once dominant in Nigeria’s political landscape but now struggling to reclaim its footing amid growing discontent and rival power blocs.

Conclusion

The coming days will determine whether the PDP can rise above its divisions and use the Ibadan convention as a turning point toward stability — or whether the party’s long-standing internal crisis will deepen, paving the way for more legal battles and political realignments ahead of 2027.

Source: Sahara Reporters
Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
Published by: Global Egberi Media International

Tags: PDP Crisis, Umar Damagum, Ibadan Convention, Nigerian Politics, Oyo High Court, Nyesom Wike, Mohammed Abdulrahman, 2027 Elections

📢 Facebook Caption:

🚨 BREAKING: Oyo High Court orders PDP and Acting Chairman Umar Damagum to hold the long-awaited national convention in Ibadan on November 15.
As factional battles deepen, will this convention reunite the PDP or tear it further apart?
📰 Read the full report on Global Egberi Media International

Comments

Post a Comment