Tension rose at the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention in Ibadan on Saturday as aggrieved delegates pulled down posters of governors who failed to attend the event.

Posters of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, both of whom were noticeably absent, were torn down by angry party members at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, where the convention is being held.

The party, currently embroiled in a major internal crisis, proceeded with the convention despite two separate court rulings against it.

The faction loyal to Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum moved forward with the exercise based on a favourable judgement from an Oyo State High Court.

Governors present at the convention include Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and host governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo).

Other top party figures in attendance were former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and former governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano).

PDP Board of Trustees member Bode George has said former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, acted out of a misunderstanding of the party’s nomination process for its 2025 national convention.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, George expressed surprise that Lamido resorted to litigation, insisting the former governor did not follow the party’s clearly stated procedures.

George explained that the nomination guidelines were approved at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

“The date for the collection of forms and the deadline for their return were all clearly outlined and approved by NEC,” he said.

He noted that all aspirants followed these rules, except Lamido, who reportedly arrived on the last day forms were due.

“Given his status, he could have contacted NEC earlier and they would have accommodated him. But taking the matter to court because he missed the deadline? That’s not proper procedure,” George added.

Assuring Nigerians that the party remains united despite internal disputes, George described the PDP as “an Iroko” and confirmed that the national convention will go ahead as scheduled.

He further stated that the court, under Justice Akintola, has extended the order to continue party operations until next Monday, with judgment expected on December 8.

Lamido, also appearing on the program, said his court action was not aimed at the PDP but was a personal attempt to restore his dignity.

“I went to court to reclaim my rights and protect my honour, not to attack anyone,” he said.

He lamented that the dispute revealed a loss of trust within the party. “I won the case, but it is distressing that the case concerns our unity and family, which has now been weakened,” Lamido said.

He added that he could not withdraw the suit, as judgment had already been delivered, and accused some PDP governors of contributing to the crisis.

Lamido also confirmed he would not attend the Ibadan convention due to the existing court injunction.

“For someone protected by the court, I cannot attend a convention where there is an injunction. Attending would negate what I have legally gained. I will abide by the court’s decision because I am a party man who believes in law and order,” he said.

Four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have arrived in Ibadan, Oyo State, as the party pushes forward with its national convention despite a Federal High Court order suspending the exercise.

The South-West chairman of the PDP, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, confirmed the presence of the governors of Bauchi (Bala Mohammed), Zamfara (Dauda Lawal), Adamawa (Ahmadu Fintiri), and Oyo (Seyi Makinde).

The PDP is currently split between factions loyal to Minister of the FCT Nyesome Wike and acting Chairman Umar Damagum.

The crisis escalated after former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido went to court, alleging he was denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form for the national chairmanship.

On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the PDP to suspend the convention and barred INEC from supervising it until Lamido was allowed to contest.

The court emphasized the party’s duty to enable members to pursue leadership positions and mandated that Lamido be allowed to campaign before any convention proceeds.

This ruling came in the wake of a similar order by Justice Lifu on November 11, 2025, which also restrained the PDP from holding the convention.

Lamido’s lawyers argued that ignoring the court order would violate the party constitution and deny him his rights.

However, a conflicting order from the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on November 3 permitted the convention to proceed and instructed INEC to monitor it.

Ajisafe, citing the Ibadan High Court ruling, insisted preparations were 98% complete and the convention would go on as planned.

Delegates from multiple states, including Lagos, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, and Delta, were already at the venue by Friday night.

Security was visibly tight, with an Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed at the entrance.

Adamawa PDP Chairman Hamza Madagali also visited the venue to assess readiness.

Sources within INEC confirmed that the commission would not monitor the convention, citing adherence to the FCT High Court ruling.

Although a press statement was initially prepared to clarify its position, it was later withdrawn.

Sule Lamido, speaking on Channels TV Politics Today, blamed the crisis on PDP governors, saying that he could not attend the convention without undermining the court order that protected his rights.

Lamido accused the governors of seeking a party they could control, while singling out Governor Seyi Makinde as the only one acting honorably.

Party chieftain Bode George dismissed claims of a crisis and defended the convention, accusing Lamido of missing the official form collection deadline.

Conversely, Wike called on the party to respect the Federal High Court ruling, emphasizing that an ex parte order from Ibadan could not override a substantive judgment.

The PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) had set up a reconciliation committee, which recommended postponing the convention until all aggrieved parties were accommodated.

Despite the advice, the NWC and the PDP Governors’ Forum pressed ahead.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki warned that proceeding under current conditions could irreparably damage the party and recommended forming an all-inclusive caretaker committee.

The party is operating under two rival factions, raising concerns about its stability ahead of the 2027 elections.

Governors Bala Mohammed, Makinde, and Muftwang accused Wike of destabilizing the party, while the NWC defended its disciplinary actions against some officers accused of taking instructions from Wike.

A BoT report highlighted deep mistrust between the governors and the NWC, citing cancelled state congresses, shifting loyalties, and ambitions for 2027 as major sources of conflict.

It urged adherence to party supremacy, constitutional discipline, and the formation of a caretaker committee, warning that conflicting court orders could prevent INEC from monitoring the convention.

Despite these warnings, the PDP went ahead with the Ibadan convention, leaving questions about its internal cohesion and the impact on the party’s 2027 election prospects.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the civil society group, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration, challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The suit sought to question Tinubu’s authority to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as his appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator of the state.

In March 2025, Tinubu had declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor and his deputy while appointing Ibas to manage the affairs of the state during the period.

The plaintiffs asked the court to declare the actions ultra vires, illegal, and inconsistent with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ruling on the matter on Friday, Justice Muhammad Turaki held that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi because Governor Fubara was not a party to the case.

He described the suit as largely an academic exercise and declined to address the substantive issues.

Speaking after the hearing, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Amegua Lezina, said they would review the judgment to determine their next steps.

“The court’s decision was based solely on the fact that the governor was not joined in the suit. The merits were not considered. We will study the ruling and, if necessary, proceed to the Court of Appeal,” Lezina stated.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned a separate suit by the same group, which challenged the National Assembly’s ratification of Ibas’ appointment, to January 23, 2026, for judgment.

Another case by the organisation regarding the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission was adjourned to December 5, 2025, for adoption of processes.

A large number of travellers in Ibadan were left stranded on Saturday after major bus terminals across Oyo State were shut down due to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention taking place in the city.

The two-day convention, already embroiled in legal disputes after two separate court rulings attempted to halt it, proceeded under the Umar Damagum-led faction, which relied on a counter-judgment from an Oyo State High Court permitting the event to go ahead.

When DAILY GAZETTE visited major inter-state transport hubs such as Iwo Road, Challenge, and Ojoo, all the terminals were locked, preventing weekend passengers from making trips to destinations like Osun, Kwara, and Niger states.

Saturdays are typically the busiest travel days, but the facilities remained inaccessible.

Transport operators told the newspaper that the closure likely originated from the leadership of the Park Management System (PMS), which Governor Seyi Makinde established following a leadership crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The NURTW is currently fighting to regain authority over the parks.

At Iwo Road, terminal workers and drivers could be seen wearing caps with “PDP convention” printed on them. Frustration was high among motorists who depend on daily income.

Kazeem, a commercial driver, expressed anger:

“So because politicians want to gather and talk, the whole city must suffer? What about those of us who survive on daily work?”

Another driver at the Ojoo terminal, Muri, said the managers closed the parks of their own accord to show support for the governor as host of the PDP convention.