Oyo High Court Overrules Convention Blockade, Clears PDP to Proceed with November 15 Elective Congress

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured a significant legal reprieve today, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan granted the opposition party the crucial clearance to proceed with its highly anticipated Elective National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025.

The interim order, delivered by Hon. Justice A. L. Akintola on Monday, effectively overrides previous legal attempts to halt the exercise and injects renewed hope into the party’s efforts to stabilize its leadership structure amidst intense internal wrangling.

The court’s decision was made following an ex-parte motion filed by an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Folahan Adelabi. Adelabi and other stakeholders sought judicial affirmation to safeguard the convention process from disruption.

Court Directs INEC and Wike-Backed Faction to Stand Down

In his definitive ruling, Justice Akintola held that the applicant presented a compelling case, stating, “The motion ex-parte has merit and succeeds as prayed.” The judge issued an explicit directive prohibiting any party officials, agents, or servants from the recently suspended National Working Committee (NWC)—or any other aggrieved faction—from interfering with the established timetable and scheduled activities for the convention.

Crucially, the Court also mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy monitors and observers to the event at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, affirming the convention as a valid and lawful party process under the provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

The ruling is seen as a major counter-strike to the court order from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had earlier halted the convention over alleged non-compliance with electoral laws, a decision that had emboldened the faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to attempt a hostile takeover of the party secretariat yesterday.

With the legal obstacles temporarily cleared, the National Convention Organizing Committee, chaired by Governor Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, is now authorized to finalize all necessary logistical preparations. The court has, however, adjourned the hearing of the substantive motion for an interlocutory injunction until November 10, 2025, indicating that the legal battles over the convention may not be entirely over.