The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended four senior officials—including National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu—for one month. The decision follows a Federal High Court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced the suspensions after an emergency NWC meeting held on Saturday at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja. He explained that, in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo will take over as Acting National Secretary. Similarly, National Director of Legal Services Jacob Otorkpa will oversee the Legal Department during the suspension period.
Ologunagba noted that the NWC reviewed recent activities and found that some officials engaged in conduct considered anti-party, violating Section 58, which addresses acts capable of bringing the party into disrepute, disobedience of party directives, and behavior likely to cause internal conflict.
As resolved by the NWC:
National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) is suspended for 30 days and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee.
Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha is suspended for 30 days and also referred for disciplinary action.
National Organising Secretary Umar Bature is suspended for one month.
National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu is suspended for one month, with Koshoedo stepping in as Acting Secretary.
These developments come amid deepening internal tensions ahead of the party’s National Elective Convention, earlier scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan. Loyalists of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike remain dissatisfied with the leadership of Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, particularly over unresolved disputes in the South-South zone and control of party structures in states such as Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Plateau.
The crisis intensified when the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order on Friday, stopping the PDP from holding the convention. Justice James Omotosho, ruling in case FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, directed that the event be suspended until the party complies fully with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved party members—Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, Abia PDP Chairman Amah Abraham Nnanna, and South-South Zonal Secretary Turnah Alabh George—who argued that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.
Justice Omotosho upheld their claims, ruling that the party breached its internal rules and INEC guidelines by not conducting proper state congresses and by failing to issue the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC. He ordered that the convention remain suspended until all irregularities are corrected.
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