The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed that preparations for the PDP National Convention 2024, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, will continue despite a Federal High Court order restraining the exercise.
The party said it remains committed to internal democracy and will not allow external interference to derail its constitutional processes.
The court order, issued in Abuja on Friday, temporarily restrained the party from conducting its elective national convention following allegations of procedural breaches in its internal preparations.
Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the case, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to receive, recognize, or publish any results from the proposed convention until the PDP fully complies with statutory requirements guiding its operations.
However, in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, released a statement expressing the party’s disappointment over the judgment, describing it as a “clear assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.”
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed deep disappointment over the ruling delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice Kolawole Omotosho, describing it as a blow to internal democracy and political liberty,” the statement said.
Party Vows to Continue Convention Plans
Ologunagba emphasized that the PDP National Convention 2024 remains a constitutionally guided exercise, insisting that the recent judgment does not prevent the party from continuing its preparations to elect new national officers.
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He noted that political parties have constitutional autonomy in managing their internal affairs, and the PDP remains determined to exercise that right.
He stated that the court’s ruling does not hinder the party from continuing its preparations and activities for the National Convention, where new national officers will be chosen to lead the party for the next four years.
The PDP’s spokesman also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling that reinforced the supremacy of political parties in organizing and conducting their internal matters without undue external interference.
He urged members across the country to remain united, calm, and focused on the forthcoming convention, which he said would mark a new chapter in the party’s repositioning efforts ahead of future elections.
“Our members, chapters, and organs should stay steadfast and committed to preparations toward the National Convention. The PDP has always stood for transparency, unity, and internal democracy,” Ologunagba added.
PDP To Appeal Judgment
Despite the ongoing legal setback, the PDP said it is already taking steps to challenge the ruling at the appellate court. According to Ologunagba, the party’s legal team has been instructed to immediately appeal the decision.
He maintained that the party remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will pursue the matter within legal frameworks, even as it continues organizing the convention.
“As a party founded on democratic values, the PDP has directed its lawyers to take prompt action to appeal this judgment. Our determination to defend multi-party democracy in Nigeria remains unwavering,” he said.
Observers believe the PDP National Convention 2024 will be crucial in determining the future direction of the opposition party, especially as it seeks to strengthen its base ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political Analysts React
Political commentators have described the unfolding situation as a “defining moment” for Nigeria’s oldest opposition party.
Dr. Adekunle Adebayo, a political analyst, told World Trend that the tension between court orders and party autonomy has long been a source of conflict in Nigerian politics.
“This case highlights the growing clash between judicial oversight and political party independence. The PDP’s response will set a precedent for how political organizations manage internal democracy moving forward,” he explained.
Another commentator, Ms. Clara Osei, noted that the PDP’s insistence on moving ahead with the convention could either strengthen its image as a resilient democratic institution or lead to further legal confrontation if the injunction is not lifted promptly.
Background
The PDP, founded in 1998, has been one of Nigeria’s most prominent political parties, producing several presidents and governors since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.
The upcoming PDP National Convention 2024 is expected to produce new leaders who will steer the party’s affairs for the next four years and reposition it as a formidable contender ahead of the next election cycle.
As the countdown to November 15 begins, all eyes remain on Ibadan — where the party is determined to prove that internal democracy, not division, defines its future.
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