November 9, 2025

Warning to PDP Aspirants, Supporters and All Nigerians: Any Election or Primary Conducted Under Suspended Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum is Null and Void

By a Concerned PDP Observer.

Dear PDP faithful, stakeholders, and concerned Nigerians,

Fellow Nigerians, and most especially members, stakeholders and supporters of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is critically important at this juncture that i speak plainly and enlighten Nigerians on the rule of law in our party affairs.

The judgment delivered by Hon. Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has made clear that any election or convention conducted by the suspended National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, under the current circumstances, is null and void.

On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a landmark judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, declaring that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC guidelines. And as such it cannot go into any elective convention.

The court explicitly restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of any national convention or related electoral processes until these breaches are rectified, including the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC for monitoring congresses.

While Umar Damagum continues to parade himself as Acting National Chairman, his authority to oversee or authorize any party primaries, congresses, or elections has been fundamentally stripped off and undermined. Damagum’s leadership operates under a cloud of illegality, as the court’s ruling exposes systemic violations in the party’s preparatory processes. Any primary election conducted under his watch including the ongoing Ekiti State gubernatorial primaries scheduled for today, November 8, 2025 risks being declared null and void ab initio.

The Federal High Court judgement is unequivocal in highlighting the PDP’s non-compliance:

“The evidence before the court showed that the PDP failed to hold valid state congresses before the planned national convention as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, guidelines of INEC, as well as its own constitution.”

“The party failed to conduct valid state congresses in accordance with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

“INEC cannot give effect to any convention conducted outside the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the guidelines governing political parties.”

The court ordered the PDP to “rectify all constitutional breaches” and provide the statutory 21-day notice before any national gathering, emphasizing that notices and correspondence signed without the National Secretary are a nullity.

These paragraphs underscore that Damagum’s faction lacks the legitimate foundation to conduct credible primaries or elective convention. And any attempt to proceed in ignorance of the rule of law will invite more litigation and chaos within the party.

In relation to the Ekiti Gubernatorial Primaries, today, November 8, 2025, marks the scheduled date for the PDP’s Ekiti State gubernatorial primaries ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

Despite reports of postponements by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Working Committee led by its acting chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed citing “logistics reasons,” any exercise overseen by Damagum’s group remains tainted and legally null and void.

By the Federal High Court of Abuja judgement, aspirants, delegates, and INEC must recognize that participating in or monitoring such a flawed process could lead to outright nullification, wasting resources and disenfranchising members. Allegations of delegate list manipulation has even further compounded these irregularities by Damagum.

It is noteworthy to dive into historical precedents while highlighting Supreme Court nullification of political parties primaries for defiance and disregard for court orders.

Nigerian jurisprudence is replete with Supreme Court rulings that void primaries conducted in defiance of court orders or party rules.
For example, Zamfara APC (2019): The Supreme Court nullified all APC victories in Zamfara State, declaring votes “wasted” because the party failed to conduct valid primaries. The court ruled that no candidates could emerge from illegitimate processes, handing seats to PDP runners-up.

Also, Rivers APC (2019): The Supreme Court upheld the nullification of APC primaries, disqualifying the party from fielding candidates due to non-compliance with electoral laws.

Furthermore, Bayelsa APC (2019): A Federal High Court nullified the APC governorship primary for violations of party guidelines, a decision affirmed in related appeals, leading to the party’s disqualification.

These cases demonstrate that the Supreme Court consistently voids outcomes from defective primaries, regardless of subsequent elections. Defying Justice Omotosho’s ruling invites similar fate for PDP in Ekiti and beyond.

In this light, PDP supporters must reject illegality to salvage the party’s credibility. Nigerians deserve opposition strength built on integrity, not factional impunity. INEC participation in any purported Damagum-led Ekiti PDP primaries will be seen as a nullity.

I will advise aspirants in Ekiti to withdraw from any purported gubernatorial primaries which is not in-line with the Rule of Law to avoid an exercise in futility.

The PDP can emerge stronger by obeying the court, reconciling factions, and conducting transparent processes. Until then, any election under Damagum is null, void, and a disservice to democracy.

Let justice prevail.