An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan will today hear a crucial motion concerning the Peoples' Democratic Party's scheduled National Convention, adding another layer to the party's ongoing internal crisis.
Court Proceedings on PDP Convention
The court will consider the motion on notice filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, and other parties involved in organizing the National Convention planned for November 15 and 16, 2025.
Justice Ladiran Akintola had previously ruled on an ex parte motion last week, ordering the PDP to proceed with its National Convention in Ibadan while adjourning the hearing of the motion on notice to November 10, 2025.
The legal action targets multiple defendants including the PDP leadership, the Governor of Adamawa State Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in his capacity as head of the National Convention Organising Committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court has directed the PDP leadership to adhere to previously released convention guidelines and timetable while ordering INEC to observe the convention proceedings in compliance with the Electoral Act.
Growing Concerns Over Wike's Influence
Meanwhile, the Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) has raised alarm over what it describes as the "excesses" of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently.
Dr Tunji Bamidele, DWI's Director of Strategic Communication, expressed deep concern about Wike's "increasingly authoritarian and destabilising actions," warning they represent a significant threat to Nigeria's democratic stability.
"Nyesom Wike, once a mere creek boy during the turbulent times when patriotic citizens fought valiantly for democracy, now finds himself in a position of power where he is wielding that power to undermine the very principles he once benefited from," Bamidele stated.
The organization accused Wike of conducting a relentless campaign against political parties, creating discord within the Labor Party and African Democratic Congress before turning his attention to destabilizing the PDP.
PDP's Internal Crisis and Future Prospects
Amid the turmoil, United Kingdom-based lawyer and PDP governorship aspirant Niyi Aborisade acknowledged the party's serious internal problems but expressed confidence in its eventual recovery.
Aborisade warned that the PDP could no longer pretend that all was well, noting that the situation had deteriorated beyond control. "There is a serious problem within our party. We cannot pretend that all is well when all is not well," he emphasized during an interview in Ibadan.
The activist expressed particular concern about the defection of sitting governors, senators, and House of Representatives members to the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a troubling development that signals deeper issues within the party.
Despite the current challenges, Aborisade maintained optimism about the PDP's ability to overcome its internal crises and reclaim its position as Nigeria's leading political force, suggesting that the party has been infiltrated but will ultimately prevail.
