Delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention have started to converge on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the party barrels toward its much-anticipated elective convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025 at the Lekan Salami Stadium. But the gathering is unfolding under a cloud of internal crisis, legal uncertainty and sharp criticism from one of the party’s most senior figures, former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
On one hand, the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP insists that all systems are go for the convention. Delegates arriving in Ibadan have spoken of strong logistical arrangements: transport is being coordinated, hotels are filling up, and the venue at Adamasingba is being prepared to host over 3,000 delegates. The party is pushing hard to ensure broad participation — including from state chairmen, statutory delegates, and other key stakeholders.
Yet, those preparations are being challenged by deep legal and political fault lines. A Federal High Court in Abuja earlier issued an injunction restraining the PDP from holding its national convention, citing procedural irregularities. According to the court, the party failed to conduct valid state congresses in several states, and did not follow due process in issuing the notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In contrast to the Abuja ruling, an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan delivered a different verdict. Justice A.L. Akintola, in a suit filed by an aspirant, granted an interim order permitting the convention to proceed, and directed INEC to send observers to monitor the exercise. The judge explicitly ordered the PDP leadership to adhere strictly to the party’s timetable and guidelines for the convention, and restrains anyone from truncating or disrupting the schedule. In a subsequent ruling, that same court extended the order, maintaining legal protection for the convention until further hearings.
Amid these conflicting court orders, Saraki has emerged as a central critic. He has openly questioned the wisdom of proceeding, calling the convention “a waste of efforts” if carried out now. In a statement after meeting with the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) reconciliation team, he urged for a pause and recommended the establishment of a caretaker committee to temporarily steer the party until genuine reconciliation is achieved. According to him, continuing with the convention under the current circumstances risks producing decisions that may not be legally secure — and could deepen the party’s internal divisions rather than heal them.
Saraki also explained that uncertainty around the legitimacy of the convention could discourage serious political actors from contesting future elections under the PDP banner. “No serious politician with electoral ambition will seek to contest … not knowing whether his or her nomination will be … declared null and void,” he warned.
On the other side, factional leaders in the PDP argue that the Oyo court’s ruling gives them the clear legal mandate to hold the convention. In their view, INEC’s participation, as ordered by the court, provides a safeguard for transparency and legitimacy. Meanwhile, internal disciplinary battles continue: there are competing suspensions of senior national officers, with rival factions accusing each other of anti-party behaviour.
Beyond the legal drama, the political symbolism of this convention is profound. The PDP is set to elect new national leadership — including key figures such as National Chairman, National Secretary, and members of its National Working Committee. The outcomes will shape the party’s trajectory ahead of future elections, making this convention not just a ritual, but a critical inflection point for the party’s unity and strategic direction.
Yet the risk is real: should the convention produce a leadership slate that is later challenged in court, the PDP may find itself mired in yet another legitimacy crisis. On the other hand, postponing or abandoning the exercise now could also be seen as a retreat, potentially weakening the party’s cohesion and future political capital.
As Ibadan braces for the event, all eyes are on whether the convention will unfold smoothly, or whether Saraki’s warnings and legal objections will force a dramatic change in course. For many PDP members, the coming days will be a test of whether the party can reconcile its internal divides — or whether it will deepen and institutionalize them.
