 in Ekiti State held its congresses despite a court restraining order, sparking legal controversy){kind=link}
Despite a subsisting court order restraining the conduct of congresses, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday proceeded with its local government and state congresses, sparking controversy and raising fresh legal and political concerns within the embattled opposition party.
The congresses, according to PDP Ekiti state caretaker leadership, were conducted peacefully and successfully across the state. This move, however, directly contravenes an interim injunction issued earlier the same day by an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, temporarily halting all congress-related activities pending the hearing of a substantive suit.
Justice E. B. Omotosho of the Ekiti State High Court granted the order in response to an ex parte motion filed by a PDP member, Afolabi Adedeji. In suit number HAD/424M/2025, Adedeji is challenging the validity of the congresses and demanding that only delegates elected on March 15, 2025, through due process, be recognized.
The judge further ruled that the originating summons and accompanying documents could be served on the PDP and key officials — including Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, Ekiti Caretaker Chairman Dare Adeleke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — via substituted means. These include pasting notices on party offices and service through WhatsApp.
The matter has been adjourned to May 14, 2025, for hearing, and all parties were directed to maintain the status quo pending further legal proceedings.
In apparent defiance of the court’s directive, the Ekiti PDP Caretaker Committee proceeded with the congresses, with the chairman, Dare Adeleke, describing the exercise as “orderly and successful.”
Speaking to reporters in Ado Ekiti, Adeleke said:
“We are thrilled that the congress commenced and concluded smoothly without any hitches. It is on record that we started ahead of schedule at 8 a.m. and by noon, we had concluded.”
He thanked the party’s National Working Committee, INEC, and security agencies for their roles in ensuring a smooth exercise. He also heaped praise on the Electoral Panel led by Dr. Eddy Olafeso, describing their performance as “marvellous” and reflective of the party’s readiness to reposition itself ahead of future elections.
However, the decision to go ahead with the congress despite the court order has drawn criticism from legal observers and party loyalists loyal to the aggrieved faction. Many fear that the move could deepen existing rifts within the Ekiti PDP and jeopardize its unity heading into the 2026 general elections.
Afolabi Adedeji, the plaintiff, insisted that the congresses lacked legal standing and should be nullified. He argued that the PDP National Secretariat must respect internal processes and court directives to preserve the party’s credibility.
Adedeji’s suit specifically seeks to bar the party from accepting any delegate list that excludes those elected on March 15 through proper procedures. His position reflects growing concerns among grassroots members over alleged imposition of candidates and disregard for party guidelines.
This latest development adds to the mounting challenges facing the PDP at both state and national levels. With internal wrangling threatening cohesion in several states, the party’s ability to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains in question.
Political analysts warn that if left unresolved, the Ekiti situation could trigger a wave of litigation and counter-congresses, particularly in states with factional structures and parallel leaderships.
As of press time, the Independent National Electoral Commission has not issued an official response regarding its recognition of the congresses conducted under these disputed circumstances. Legal experts suggest that INEC’s eventual stance could influence the legitimacy of the outcome and shape future court rulings.
The unfolding drama in Ekiti underscores the fragile state of internal democracy within Nigeria’s political parties. As the legal battle intensifies ahead of the next hearing on May 14, all eyes will remain on the judiciary to determine whether the PDP’s congress will stand — or be rendered null and void.