Preparations are in full swing for the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15th and 16th, 2025. This is despite conflicting court judgements concerning the event.

Last week, an Oyo State High Court instructed the party and its acting National Chairman, Mr. Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention plans. However, days later, a High Court in Abuja halted the PDP from conducting the event and instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to supervise or recognise it.

On Thursday, a faction within the party, led by Mr. Sam Anyanwu, announced that the convention had been postponed. This move was quickly refuted by the Damagum-led national leadership, which stated there had been no “pronouncement to the contrary, by any court of higher jurisdiction”.

As of Friday, preparations had intensified. At the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the PDP’s red, white, and green motifs adorned the arena a day before the convention. Delegates had already started arriving in the south-western city for the event, with party officials inspecting the facilities.

On its official social media handle, the PDP shared a photo from the venue, expressing its readiness to proceed. “With the venue fully aglow and preparations hitting fever pitch, the stage is set for a convention that would redefine the PDP’s trajectory toward 2027,” the party wrote in a post accompanying a video.

Hours later, key PDP stakeholders unanimously resolved to hold the convention, describing November 15th and 16th, 2025, as “irrevocable dates for the party’s 2025 Elective National Convention”. They reached this decision during a meeting on Thursday night at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

Attendees included National Working Committee members, serving and former governors, National Assembly members, Board of Trustees (BOT) members, and state party chairmen.

Amid the conflict, a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, advised the PDP to shelve the event. Dr. Saraki, who was governor of Kwara State for eight years under the party, told the opposition to appoint a caretaker committee instead.

“My advice to the BOT team is that the only solution available to us now is for the party to set up a Caretaker Committee to steer the affairs of the party for the time being,” Senator Saraki wrote on his X handle after the meeting. He believes, “This is the path to true reconciliation and stability of the Party. It is also the best way to give confidence to our members who intend to contest elections on the PDP platform”.