PDP Convention: Wike, Ikpeazu, Ortom, Others Support Court Ruling

Several key Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, including Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State; and Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, have publicly supported Friday’s court decision to halt the party’s National Convention.

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the stoppage of the convention.

At a meeting held late on Friday at the Life Camp residence of Wike, the Concerned Stakeholders, including the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, backed the order stopping the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In a communique after the meeting, the stakeholders commended the judiciary “for upholding truth over impunity,” noting that the ruling had affirmed the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines, and PDP constitution.

According to the communique, the judgment affirmed Chief Dan Orbih as the authentic National Vice Chairman, South South, of the party, while declaring the purported appointment of Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as null and void.

They also hailed the court for upholding the expulsion of Ali Odefa, saying the decision “has restored integrity and discipline in the administration of the party while emphasizing that persons expelled from the party have no locus standi to stand or litigate on its behalf”.

The communique further highlighted the court’s reaffirmation that all official correspondences to INEC must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary, with the latter remaining the principal signatory to the party’s official communications.

It also noted that no national convention of the PDP can hold until all due processes stipulated by law, including the party’s constitution and INEC guidelines, are duly complied with.

The communique said: “This judgement further establishes that the plaintiff’s action was not an interference in the party’s internal affairs but a patriotic effort to ensure that INEC performs its constitutional duty in enthroning internal democracy in political party administration in Nigeria.”

Describing the ruling as “a crucial step towards sanitizing Nigeria’s political system,” they said it reinforces lawful, transparent, and accountable political processes while rejecting impunity.

Reaffirming their commitment to the court’s decision, the group said: “We will abide by the judgement in its entirety. We commend and affirm our faith in the judiciary.”

They added that as loyal and committed party leaders, they remain open to reconciliation and collective rebuilding of the PDP.

“Our doors are open to all genuine members of the party across the country to join hands with us in returning our party to its founding ideals,” the communique read.

The stakeholders urged members nationwide to “stand for truth, justice and the rule of law — the very values that define our great party and its promise to Nigerians”

Others who attended the meeting included some members of the party’s Board of Trustees; Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from the South East, South South and North Central; Senator Philip Aduda; Hon. Micah Jiba; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly; and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.