The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced an urgent review of contradictory court rulings concerning the Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention slated for Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
A senior official at the electoral body confirmed on Thursday that INEC’s legal department is carefully examining all judgments issued by courts of coordinate jurisdiction before determining whether to monitor the opposition party’s leadership election.
The commission faces a delicate situation following conflicting judicial pronouncements, with one court issuing an order restraining the PDP from conducting its convention while another has granted permission for the exercise to proceed.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the INEC source disclosed that a final position would be communicated before the commencement of the convention.
“We will definitely decide before the convention begins,” the official stated, adding that the legal team is proceeding cautiously given the complexity of the legal questions involved.
INEC’s participation or absence at the convention could have significant implications for the legitimacy of the exercise, as the electoral commission’s presence typically serves as an official seal of credibility for party congresses and conventions.
Despite the legal uncertainty surrounding the event, party faithful and elected delegates have been arriving in Ibadan throughout the week in preparation for Saturday’s leadership election.
The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the PDP, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, expressed confidence that the party has achieved the constitutional quorum required to conduct a valid convention.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Ajisafe disclosed that delegates from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states had confirmed their attendance, satisfying the party’s constitutional requirements.
“As of Wednesday afternoon, delegates had already begun arriving. People have started arriving, delegates, stakeholders, state chairmen. We have secured two-thirds of the attendance of states, apart from one or two that we are doubting. Even if you don’t have all 36 states, you are still good to go with two-thirds,” Ajisafe said.
The party official’s statement suggests the PDP leadership intends to proceed with the convention regardless of the conflicting court orders, banking on having met the numerical threshold specified in the party’s constitution.
The convention is expected to elect new national officers for the main opposition party, which has been grappling with internal divisions and leadership disputes in recent months.
However, the contradictory court rulings have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the exercise, with legal experts warning that the outcomes could face post-convention challenges depending on how the courts ultimately resolve the conflicting orders.
INEC’s decision on whether to deploy officials to monitor the convention will likely be influenced by its assessment of which court order takes precedence and the potential legal ramifications of choosing one judicial directive over another.
The commission has historically maintained that it carefully respects court orders while ensuring its actions do not inadvertently validate processes that may later be nullified by superior courts.
As Saturday approaches, all eyes remain on both the electoral commission and the judiciary to provide clarity on the fate of what many consider a crucial exercise for Nigeria’s opposition politics.
