PDP Convention Is Fully Legal, Latest Court Order Settles Controversy — Dr Sam Amadi
Despite swirling legal interpretations trailing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership tussle, the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has maintained that the party’s recent national PDP convention stands on solid legal footing.
In a weekend appearance on Arise News, Amadi clarified that the last valid court order issued ahead of the convention expressly authorised it to proceed—effectively voiding earlier contradictory rulings that had thrown the PDP into procedural uncertainty. PulseNets learnt that he described the conflicting legal directives as a symptom of Nigeria’s deepening judicial inconsistencies in political matters.
According to him, much of the chaos emanated from what he termed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) reluctance to exercise its regulatory mandate, coupled with courts issuing what he characterised as “avoidable and confusing” ex parte interventions.
He argued that the convention was fully supported by the law, insisting that the most recent judicial pronouncement had cleared the path for its conduct.
“There’s no ambiguity here—this convention carries legal authority,” Amadi asserted.
“The most recent court decision, issued on Friday, upheld the right of the PDP to proceed. Once that stands, you cannot describe the convention as unlawful.”
He lamented that competing court directives have created an environment where political actors pursue multiple injunctions simultaneously, rather than allowing established party procedures and regulatory oversight to function.
Amadi further criticised INEC for what he suggested was a troubling pattern of surrendering its quasi-judicial responsibilities to the judiciary. He told PulseNets that political parties are mandated to submit their leadership records to INEC for verification, with courts stepping in only when internal processes appear compromised.
He maintained that existing records confirm the legitimacy of the current Board of Trustees (BoT), noting that the body has operated seamlessly for more than three years and therefore cannot be abruptly displaced without due process.
Addressing interpretations that the Supreme Court has barred judicial involvement in internal party matters, Amadi clarified that the apex court merely prohibits judges from selecting party executives. He emphasised that the court still retains power to determine whether internal rules have been violated.
Also Read: PDP Convention: Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu Expelled as Delegates Unanimously Endorse Removal
On the recent expulsion of high-profile figures such as Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose, Amadi emphasised the importance of procedural fairness while questioning the steadfastness of party members said to be aligning themselves with rival political structures.
