Convention: Four PDP governors storm Ibadan as INEC signals boycott

PDP event

Four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have arrived in Ibadan, Oyo State, as the party pushes forward with its national convention despite a Federal High Court order suspending the exercise.

The South-West chairman of the party, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, on Friday, confirmed the development to Saturday PUNCH.

He confirmed the presence of the governors of Bauchi (Bala Mohammed), Zamfara (Dauda Lawal), Adamawa (Ahmadu Fintiri) and Oyo (Seyi Makinde) ahead of the convention.

Conflicting court rulings

The PDP has been engulfed in crises, with factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, and the acting Chairman Umar Damagum, locked in a bitter confrontation over the convention scheduled for today and Sunday, November 16.

In the build-up to the convention, a former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek justice after being denied the opportunity to purchase the PDP national chairmanship nomination form.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered the party to suspend the convention.

He also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP without including the plaintiff as a contestant.

Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court established that Lamido was denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman of the party.

The court affirmed that the PDP was duty-bound to create opportunities for its members to serve by adopting deliberate measures that enabled them to pursue their political aspirations.

As a consequential order, Justice Lifu directed that the planned convention be put on hold to allow Lamido to obtain the nomination form, mobilise supporters and conduct his campaign.