A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has again halted the planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any outcome from the convention, where new national officers were expected to be elected. The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Tuesday, followed an application filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.

Lamido had approached the court alleging that he was unfairly excluded from the chairmanship race after being denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form. He argued that the action violated his right to participate in the process.

Justice Lifu, in his ruling, said the restraining order became necessary because the PDP failed to comply with statutory provisions guiding the conduct of party conventions. He observed that the evidence before the court showed the party had not published a timetable for the exercise, which amounted to a breach of due process.

The judge further ruled that the balance of convenience favoured Lamido, noting that the former governor would suffer irreparable harm if unlawfully excluded from the process. “In a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly observed by those in authority. To act otherwise is to endanger the very foundation of democracy itself,” he stated.

Justice Lifu added that, under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, the judiciary must not shirk its duty to uphold justice without fear or favour. He warned that failure by courts to discharge their constitutional responsibilities could result in anarchy.

In his final order, Justice Lifu restrained the PDP from holding the national convention in Ibadan or any other location on the scheduled dates or thereafter. He also ordered INEC not to monitor or recognise the outcome of any such gathering organised by the party.

This is not the first time the court has stopped the PDP’s planned convention. In October 2025, another Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho had issued a similar order. That suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by three party officials — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).

The aggrieved members had argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the PDP’s constitution, and urged the court to halt it until the party complied with due process.

However, on November 4, the Oyo State High Court had granted the PDP permission to proceed with preparations for the convention. Justice Akintola, ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi, gave an interim order allowing the party to continue planning the exercise without interference.

The motion listed the PDP, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee), and INEC as respondents.

Justice Akintola later adjourned hearing on a Motion on Notice filed by another applicant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, against the same respondents to allow all parties time to file and exchange necessary legal documents before substantive hearing.

When the opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), debuted in July, it did so with fanfare, casting itself as a new political force determined to shake up Nigeria’s political landscape.

When the opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was launched in July, it entered the political scene with great fanfare, positioning itself as a force capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

The coalition, which includes prominent figures such as Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate; Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president; David Mark, former senate president; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor; and Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor of Rivers State, vowed to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and resist what it described as attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Its formation was widely seen as a strategic response to the fragmentation of the opposition vote in the 2023 elections — a split that ultimately paved the way for President Bola Tinubu’s victory.

However, months after its highly publicised debut, the coalition’s electoral performance has fallen short of expectations.

The first major test for the ADC-led alliance came in August 2025, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a series of by-elections across federal and state constituencies. The coalition failed to win a single seat and has yet to record any victories in local government polls.

A second opportunity came with the Anambra governorship election held on November 8. The ADC finished fifth with just 8,208 votes. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won decisively with 422,664 votes, followed by the APC with 99,445, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) with 37,753, and the Labour Party (LP) with 10,576.

Days before the poll, Atiku Abubakar endorsed the ADC candidate, John Nwosu, urging Anambra voters to “end the era of poor governance.” In a statement, the former vice-president described the election as “a unique opportunity to ensure that the ruling APC does not get the chance of practising its notoriety of snatching and running away with the mandate of the people.”

But Atiku’s appeal failed to translate into votes.

Before the coalition adopted the ADC as its platform, the party held only two seats in the House of Representatives. On July 2, opposition leaders formally announced the ADC as their umbrella platform, followed by a leadership shake-up that saw Ralph Nwosu’s executives step aside for a transitional team headed by David Mark.

The next day, Peter Obi reaffirmed his commitment to the coalition, describing it as a necessary step to confront Nigeria’s challenges and chart a new direction for the country.

“Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together towards the 2027 general elections, ensuring that Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the nation’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first,” Obi said.

Atiku, meanwhile, has continued to promote the ADC on social media as a credible platform for a broad opposition movement aimed at “rescuing Nigeria” from what he calls the “incompetent and dictatorial” APC government. Since mid-2025, he has urged Nigerians — especially youths and grassroots organisers — to engage with the ADC, attend its events, and present a united front against entrenched political interests.

Despite this enthusiasm, the coalition’s poor showing in recent elections has exposed the gap between national visibility and voter mobilisation. Analysts say the results suggest that high-profile endorsements do not necessarily influence outcomes at the state level.

Losses not indicative of 2027 prospects 

Speaking to TheCable on Monday, a senior party member, Abdullahi, argued that the dynamics of local elections differ from national contests. He noted that even at the peak of the PDP’s dominance, Anambra remained under APGA’s control, and the APC has also struggled to gain ground there.

He added that the coalition was still in its infancy when the August by-elections took place and that the candidates in those races had been nominated before the alliance was formed. “These results do not reflect how Nigerians are likely to respond to the coalition in future elections,” Abdullahi said.

What’s Next

As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace, the ADC coalition faces a critical test: transforming its political visibility into organisational strength. Its ability to build a credible grassroots voter base — beyond elite networks — will determine whether it can pose a serious challenge to the APC or remain a short-lived political experiment.

The Ekiti governorship election next year will offer the coalition another opportunity to demonstrate whether it can turn its ambitions into real electoral strength.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has declared emphatically that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will never become the president of Nigeria.

Oba Akiolu made the statement on Sunday while speaking with journalists during a media session held to commemorate his 82nd birthday and 22nd anniversary on the throne.

The monarch contrasted Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing Tinubu as a “visionary and compassionate leader.”

He said: “The future belongs to God. But let me say it plainly: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will never be president of Nigeria. Tinubu is compassionate and visionary. Who would have believed he would become president? He presented his certificate to me first after winning. Lagosians and Nigerians should support him to fulfil God’s purpose for the country.”

Speaking further on his relationship with the president, Oba Akiolu stated that he had always maintained a positive regard for Tinubu, noting that his rise to power was divinely ordained.

He said: “I’m not a politician, but I always tell them that politicians don’t fight, they only disagree. God deliberately chose Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria. On May 23, 2003, the day I received my certificate of office, I told God that Tinubu would one day be president. He made Lagos proud and will complete his term by God’s grace. Everything in life has an end. Only God gives longevity.”

The royal father used the occasion to urge Nigerians to rally behind President Tinubu, emphasizing that divine providence has a hand in his leadership and calling for unity to achieve the country’s collective aspirations.