Breaking News: The Federal High Court has ordered PDP to go ahead with its South-South Zonal Congress

The Federal High Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja and presided over by Hon. Justice J.K. Omotosho, has ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party can proceed with its South-South Zonal Elective Congress scheduled for February 22, 2025, in Calabar, Cross Rivers State. This decision comes after the court refused an interim injunction sought by plaintiffs Desmond Owei and Osahon Terry Okonedo to halt the congress.

In a ruling issued today, Friday, February 21, 2025, Justice Omotosho denied the plaintiffs’ Motion Exparte, which was filed on February 20, 2025. The motion sought to restrain the defendants—Amb. Iliya Damagun (Acting National Chairman of the PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbhi (National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone), and the PDP itself—from holding the zonal congress, approved by the Zonal Executive Committee, pending the hearing of a related Motion on Notice.

The court’s order, supported by an affidavit from Vincent Sani, a litigation secretary at Dr. O.J. Onoja SAN and Associates, and argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria George Ibrahim alongside Oguche Agbonika Esq. and F.O. Akoh Esq., stated that the ex parte application to stop the congress was refused. The court directed that the Motion on Notice, also filed on February 20, 2025, seeking an interlocutory injunction, be served on all respondents, with the matter adjourned to March 4, 2025, for a hearing.

This ruling clears the way for the PDP to conduct its South-South Zonal Elective Congress as planned unless further legal action is taken before the scheduled date. The decision underscores the court’s cautious approach to granting urgent interim relief and emphasizes procedural fairness by allowing the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs’ claims in the upcoming hearing.

The case, identified as Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/299/2025 highlights ongoing internal dynamics within the PDP as the party navigates leadership elections in the South-South Zone.