A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled ruling for November 11 on a motion by former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, seeking to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its national convention.
Justice Peter Lifu chose the date on Thursday after lawyers to parties made their final submissions both in favour and against the motion.
The court had, in a ruling on October 31 declined to grant a motion ex-parte filed by Lamido for an interim order, stopping the convention pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed with it.
Instead, the court ordered that the defendants be put on notice for them to appear and show cause why the interim injunction, as sought by Lamido should not be granted.
Listed as defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025. are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At the resumption of proceedings on Thursday, Lamido’s lawyer, Jeph Njikonye (SAN) recalled that the court had ordered the defendants to show cause why his client’s request should not be granted.
PDP’s lawyer, Omokayode Dada, (SAN) and that of INEC, Adamu Bello said they complied with the court order by separate affidavits as required, which they served on the plaintiff.
In his submission, Dada faulted Lamido’s claim that he was denied the opportunity to purchase PDP’s nomination form.
Dada queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case which, he claimed relates to the internal affairs of the party.
He urged the court to dismiss the suit.
In its affidavit, the PDP stated that the days fixed by its National Working Committee (NWC) for the purchase of nomination form for all aspirants for national elective positions in the convention expired before October 27 when Lamido visited the party’s national headquarters.
It said the party’s leadership had earlier approved the timetable and schedule of activity for the year 2025 elective national convention.
The party said the timetable and schedule of activities were between September 3 and 30, adding that all its members are bound by it constitution, guidelines, notices and it decisions.
The PDP denied violating any of the provisions of the its constitution and guidelines as well as the rights of any aspirant.
Bello prayed the court to refuse Lamido’s prayers, noting that the reliefs sought against his client in the motion were the same as prayers in Lamido’s originating summons pending before the court.
He argued that granting the interim or interlocutory injunction sought would amount to prejudging the substantive issues in the suit.
Bello added that the plaintiff’s motion amounted to an invitation to the court to interfere in the domestic affairs of a political party.
INEC, in the affidavit, said that a court of record should not dabble into a political question which remains the exclusive preserve of political parties which should be allowed to do their things.
On his part, Njikonye urged the court to refuse the defendants’ prayer for the rejection of his client’s request.
He argued that INEC, which ought to be unbiased, could not be seen crying more than the bereaved.
The plaintiff’s lawyer added: “The second defendant (INEC) should be independent. It should be an umpire in conduct,” adding that INEC could not afford to act like a political party.
He said it was within the powers of the court to make the proper orders in the case.
Earlier, the court granted the request by three officials of the PDP to be made parties in the case.
Those who sought to be made part of the case are Hon Austine Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman); Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman) and Hon Turnah George (said to be PDP Secretary, South-South geo-political zone).
Justice Lifu granted an order joining the three after their lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) moved a motion to that effect.
Daudu told the court, while moving the motion, informed the court that his clients were the plaintiffs in the suit in which another judge of the Abuja division of the court, Justice James Omotosho delivered a judgment on October 31, restraining INEC from recognising the PDP’s national convention planned for November 15 and 16.
