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The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from holding its planned national convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16.

The court ruled that the party failed to comply with key provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines in the build‑up to the convention.‎‎

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho declared that the PDP cannot proceed with the convention until it provides a proper framework for electing delegates.

He stressed that the conditions for a valid national convention had not been met.‎‎

The judge noted that congresses to elect delegates were not held in several states. Where they were held, the notices were signed only by the national chairman of the party, excluding the national secretary.

This, he said, was a clear breach of INEC regulations and provisions of the Electoral Act.‎‎

Justice Omotosho also invalidated the submissions made by PDP counsel Chris Uche and Eyitayo Jegede of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party, ruling that they were not properly authorized by the party’s national legal adviser.‎‎

The judge held that it is only the National Legal Adviser that has the constitutional mandate to appoint legal representation. He explained that even though they were assigned by the national chairman, such authorization was invalid without the legal adviser’s approval.‎‎

The court further clarified that the case was not about the internal affairs of the PDP, but about compliance with electoral laws and laid down guidelines.

Justice Omotosho said the suit was aimed at ensuring democratic principles are upheld in the build up to the convention, adding that adherence to INEC guidelines helps forestall impunity.‎‎

He emphasized that the PDP’s failure to issue valid postponement notices for congresses in affected states rendered the process arbitrary and invalid.

As a result, the party is not entitled to hold a national convention until proper congresses are conducted in line with the law.‎‎

In addition, the court restrained INEC from accepting the results of any congress conducted in breach of electoral regulations.

It directed the PDP to issue fresh notices for congresses, jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary, as required by law.‎‎

With this ruling, the PDP’s national convention has been put on hold.

The party must now return to the drawing board, comply with electoral guidelines, and conduct valid congresses before it can reconvene its highest decision‑making gathering.

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected a new chairman alongside 38 other executive members.

Raymond Dabo emerged chairman of the party in the state at the congress held at the weekend in Jos which drew delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, David Embughadu, who declared Raymond Dabo as the winner said he scored 2,162 votes.

Similarly, Gyang Tanko emerged deputy chairman with 2,102 votes, while Michael Dachom was elected the secretary and Felix Choji publicity secretary.

The new chairman in his acceptance speech pledged to be transparent, and run an all-inclusive and reconciliatory administration.

He said his executive would embark on a statewide reconciliation and engage party leaders and members across all wards and local government areas.

In his remarks, the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, tasked the new executives to work towards leading the party to victory in the 2027 general elections.

A Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of six new states in the country.

The resolution was reached, weekend , at a two-day retreat, co-chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

The joint committee considered a total of 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation requests during the retreat.

Recently, the agitations for the creation of new states and local government areas dominated the space during recent public hearings on constitution review in the country.

Representatives Committees had conducted public hearings in the six geo-political zones of the country to get inputs from various stakeholders to enable the lawmakers effect amendments to the 1999 Constitution.