With just hours to the Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention, Ibadan has become the centre of intense political activity as legal battles, factional disagreements and last-minute preparations collide.
The two-day convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday has been described by insiders as one of the most contentious in the party’s history, following the withdrawal of a major faction and a wave of suspensions within the National Working Committee.
The Damagum-led NWC had earlier placed the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, on a one-month suspension over alleged anti-party activities. This development was compounded by conflicting court rulings that alternately halted and cleared the way for the convention.
A Federal High Court ruling by Justice James Omotosho had initially restrained the PDP from holding the convention, faulting the party for failing to follow its own guidelines regarding the signing of official notices to INEC. The decision also barred the electoral commission from monitoring the event.
Relief came from Oyo State when Justice Ladiran Akintola granted an ex parte order permitting the PDP’s convention to proceed. But the respite was short-lived as another case—this time filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido—led Justice Peter Lifu to suspend the exercise again, citing Lamido’s inability to obtain a nomination form for the national chairmanship race. Justice Akintola subsequently extended his earlier order, reinforcing the go-ahead.
Despite the confusion, work intensified at the Lekan Salami Stadium, with decorations, branding and stage construction advancing on Thursday. Over 3,000 delegates of PDP from across the 36 states and the FCT are expected, in addition to party leaders, diplomats and observers. The convention will be broadcast in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
The PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Kamorudeen Ajisafe, confirmed that delegates had begun arriving.
“The convention is still very much on. People have started arriving—delegates, stakeholders, state chairmen. We have secured two-thirds attendance of states, apart from one or two that we are doubting,” he said. “So, even if you don’t have all 36 states, you are still good to go with two-third.”
On the legal disputes, Ajisafe maintained that the party was not bound by conflicting rulings from courts of equal jurisdiction. “It’s only a superior court that can give direction,” he added.
He also said INEC and security agencies were expected at the event. “INEC will be there because we have met the stipulated rules and regulations of engagement… So, we are good to go.”
At the venue, the Secretary of the Venue Sub-Committee, Olajide Stanley, said preparations were on track.
“If you look around, the stages are coming up, the flags are flying, rebranding is going on, and we are ready,” he said. “I’ll say we’re about 60 per cent ready… We are extremely delighted that we are moving forward under the leadership of Seyi Makinde.”
He noted heavy traffic on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway due to movement of participants and equipment but described it as the only “major logistics challenge.”
Meanwhile, INEC sources revealed the commission was still studying the court rulings. “We will definitely decide before the convention begins,” an official said.
But amid the push to proceed, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the party to suspend the convention, warning that the current trajectory would worsen its internal crisis.
In a statement after meeting the PDP Board of Trustees Reconciliation Team, Saraki said the exercise was now mired in legal and political controversy.
“I expressed deep regret that, despite the selfless efforts of many party leaders, the exercise has become mired in extensive political and legal controversy. This does not bode well for our party or Nigeria’s democracy,” he wrote.
He argued that the conflicting court orders had cast doubts on the legitimacy of the convention. “As a leader, I cannot in good conscience support any action that will jeopardise the aspirations of our members,” he said.
Saraki called for the immediate creation of a caretaker committee to steer the party “within the next two days,” insisting that no serious aspirant would contest under a platform facing legal uncertainty.
“Going ahead with the Ibadan convention will only deepen the crisis and waste resources,” he warned.
