By: Ojay Matthew
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has affirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention is legally valid, despite earlier contradictory judicial pronouncements.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Saturday, Amadi explained that the most recent court ruling issued ahead of the convention expressly allowed the exercise to proceed, effectively overriding previous conflicting orders.
He attributed the confusion surrounding the PDP leadership tussle to what he described as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s reluctance to perform its regulatory duties, coupled with a pattern of courts issuing “confusing and unnecessary” ex parte directives.
Amadi maintained that the convention was grounded in law, saying the latest court order supported its conduct.
“The convention stands on firm legal footing,” he said. “The ruling that came in on Friday cleared the way for it, so its legitimacy cannot be questioned. The real challenge is the courts approving and disapproving actions at the same time.”
According to him, the situation reflects a broader problem in Nigeria’s political space, where actors rush to secure favourable injunctions rather than allow party procedures to run their course.
He criticised INEC for what he called an abdication of its quasi-judicial responsibilities, noting that the commission should first assess and determine the validity of party leadership documents before such matters escalate to the judiciary.
Amadi added that all available evidence supports the legitimacy of the current Board of Trustees, which he said has functioned for more than three years and cannot simply be displaced without cause.
Clarifying a widespread misconception, he explained that while the Supreme Court bars judges from choosing party leaders, it does not prevent courts from determining whether political parties comply with their internal rules.
Speaking on the recent expulsion of prominent members such as Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose, Amadi emphasised the importance of due process but questioned the commitment of those accused of aligning with rival political groups.
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