IBADAN — The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has again extended its interim order preventing any interference with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention scheduled to hold on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
Justice Ladiran Akintola, who presided over the case, ruled on Wednesday that the interim injunction earlier granted would remain in force until Friday, when the substantive case comes up for further hearing.
The judge reaffirmed that the restraining order, which was originally issued on an ex-parte motion filed by the claimant/applicant, would continue to subsist pending the determination of the suit before the court.
After hearing submissions from counsels representing both parties, Justice Akintola adjourned the matter to Friday for continuation of the hearing.
Meanwhile, ruling on an application for joinder filed by another party in the case, the judge held that the application could not be entertained because it was not signed by the deponent.
However, counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), argued that the omission did not render the application invalid, insisting that the deponent’s identity was clearly established and that the missing signature did not amount to total non-compliance.
Justice Akintola, however, maintained that while the application could not be accepted in its current form, it could be refiled properly.
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the claimant, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), explained that the issue arose when the court discovered that the affidavit for the joinder application was unsigned. He noted that the affected party had indicated readiness to refile the application correctly.
It will be recalled that the same court had earlier permitted the PDP to proceed with its National Convention as scheduled, restraining the defendants — Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (representing the National Convention Organising Committee); and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — from obstructing the process.
The court also directed the PDP to strictly adhere to the approved guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities for the convention.
PDP Insists Convention Will Hold as Planned
Meanwhile, the PDP has reaffirmed that its 2025 National Convention will go ahead as scheduled this weekend in Ibadan, dismissing reports of postponement as false and politically motivated.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary and Secretary of the Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party maintained that the event remains fixed for Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, 2025.
The PDP accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring misinformation to disrupt the event, describing the move as a desperate attempt to weaken the opposition.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) and the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee of the PDP inform all members and the public that the convention has not been postponed but will proceed as planned in Ibadan,” Ologunagba stated.
He further alleged that the APC was plotting to destabilise the opposition and impose a one-party system, warning that such attempts would be lawfully resisted.
“We are aware of plots by the APC to destabilise the opposition and impose a one-party state in Nigeria — a design that will be lawfully resisted,” he said.
