The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended four top national officers for one month following a court ruling that stopped the party’s planned national convention.
Those suspended are the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature.
Announcing the decision in Abuja on Saturday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the action followed an emergency NWC meeting held at the party’s Legacy House office in Maitama.
According to him, the suspensions were based on the party’s constitutional provisions, particularly over alleged anti-party activities and actions deemed to have brought the party into disrepute.
Ologunagba stated that under Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, will serve as Acting National Secretary, while Jacob Otorkpa, the National Director of Legal Services, will oversee the Legal Department during the suspension period.
He explained, “The NWC has reviewed the party’s activities in recent months, including cases of anti-party conduct, and has reached the following decisions in line with the constitution. The National Legal Adviser, Kamal Ajibade (SAN), Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, are all suspended for 30 days and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.”
Ologunagba added that the affected officers would cease to perform their official functions for the duration of the suspension.
The decision comes amid mounting internal tensions within the PDP, ahead of its planned National Elective Convention originally scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have continued to voice dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, particularly over disputes surrounding South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States.
Disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement for key party offices have further deepened the division, eventually leading to a legal battle to halt the convention.
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the PDP from holding the convention.
In the ruling on suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the event be suspended until the party complies with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.
The case was filed by three aggrieved party members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP South-South Zonal Secretary) — who argued that the planned convention breached the party’s internal rules and electoral regulations.
They contended that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before announcing the convention and neglected to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Omotosho agreed with the plaintiffs, ruling that the party violated its constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines. He therefore ordered that the planned convention remain suspended until all internal irregularities are resolved in line with the law.
