Despite conflicting court rulings over the Peoples Democratic Party’s planned national convention, delegates and senior party figures continued to troop into Ibadan, Oyo State, ahead of Saturday’s event.
PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Kamorudeen Ajisafe, told Punch on Thursday that the party had already “secured the attendance of delegates from at least two-thirds of the 36 states,” meeting the constitutional requirement for the convention to proceed.
He said, “As of Wednesday afternoon, delegates had already begun arriving. People have started arriving, delegates, stakeholders, state chairmen. We have secured two-thirds of the attendance of states, apart from one or two that we are doubting. Even if you don’t have all 36 states, you are still good to go with two-thirds.”
Addressing concerns over the conflicting court orders issued in Abuja and Ibadan, Ajisafe argued that only a higher court could definitively determine the legal status of the convention.
He said, “From the legal point of view, when there are conflicting judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, the judgment is not binding on either party. It becomes persuasive. And it’s only a superior court that can give direction.”
INEC, Security Agencies Expected at Convention Venue
Ajisafe dismissed speculations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might skip the convention, insisting the party had met all requirements under the Electoral Act 2022.
“INEC will be there because we have met the stipulated rules and regulations of engagement with INEC. The law requires 21-day notice before the convention. We have done that and even held a National Executive Committee meeting afterwards. So, we are good to go,” he said.
He added that security agencies were also expected to maintain order at the venue.
He said, “That is an extra comfort; they may come, they may not. But they have the statutory responsibility of doing their job, even to secure protesters, not to talk of political parties, where it involves life. As the biggest political party, they have to witness it.”
Responding to former Senate President Bukola Saraki’s suggestion that the party should set up a caretaker committee to address internal disputes, Ajisafe cautioned that such a move could worsen the situation.
“Rather, the convention should give a direction on whether having a caretaker committee will be the way to go,” he said.
