Court Invalidates PDP Congresses In Ebonyi State

A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has nullified the recent ward, council, and state congresses conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the second defendant in the case, from recognizing the elected officers.

This ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2024 by Nnenna Lynda Udeh and 12 others against the PDP, seeking to annul the congresses on constitutional grounds. On November 2, certain party stakeholders had held a congress that led to the election of Peter Nwele as the new state chairman.

Presiding over the case, Justice Hilary Oshomah declared the congresses unconstitutional and void, stating they did not adhere to the democratic procedures outlined by the party. Consequently, he ordered that those elected should no longer present themselves as members of the State Executive Working Committee.

“The congress of the PDP in the state is nullified, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever,” Justice Oshomah affirmed.

Mudi Erhenede, representing the plaintiffs, praised the decision, explaining that the applicants had been denied access to nomination forms. Despite the pending case, the PDP proceeded with the congresses. Erhenede remarked, “The court has ruled in our favor. The congress did not follow the democratic processes of the party. It is a law that all parties should be allowed to have access to the form.”