Court Removes INEC from PDP Convention Suit, Case Continues with Other Defendants

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has removed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from a case challenging the conduct and eligibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elective convention held in Ibadan.

At an earlier hearing, INEC’s lawyer, Mr. O. Adeyemi, told the court it had no power to hear the case since INEC is a federal agency. He argued that only a Federal High Court can handle matters involving INEC. Based on this, he asked the court to remove INEC from the case.

Justice Akintola agreed with the argument and ruled that INEC should no longer be part of the case. He said the State High Court does not have the authority to judge matters involving a federal agency. However, the judge kept the other defendants in the case, including the PDP’s acting chairman, Damagun.

The case has been moved to January 26, 2026, for the next hearing.

After the ruling, the claimant’s lawyer, Musbau Adetunmbi (SAN), said INEC was removed from the case because of its objection to the court’s power. He explained that the court still has the right to hear the case against the other three defendants: the PDP, party member Folahan Malomo, and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who chairs the PDP zonal committee.

Dapo Durosharan, the PDP’s legal adviser in Oyo State, also spoke after the ruling. He said that even though INEC is no longer part of the case, the court will continue with the rest of the matter on the new date.