The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, scheduled for today (Saturday) has been plunged into further crisis after a court issued a final order on Friday, stopping the event.
Despite the court ruling, a faction of the party, led by Umar Damagun, is seemingly proceeding with the convention, which is being boycotted by key political figures, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Delegates from different parts of Nigeria started arriving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday, lodging in hotels.
However, another faction, led by Muhammed Abdulrahman, has urged the Umar Damagum leadership to adhere to the court judgment.
At a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the Abdulrahman-led bloc addressed a news conference.
The faction spoke about the Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee, which recommended the suspension of the national convention.
Rift in the Once-Ruling Party
The PDP crisis stems from deep internal conflict within the party.
The Friday court order aborting its convention was due to the exclusion of Jigawa State's former governor, Sule Lamido, from the list of chairmanship candidates.
The court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or participating in the convention.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the party could not proceed with its Saturday and Sunday national convention until Lamido is allowed to purchase a nomination form for the office of the national chairman.
Justice Lifu held that the PDP, by its conduct, had breached its own party’s guidelines and constitution.
