The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has adjourned ruling on a preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction in a suit filed by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Folahan Adelabi, over the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday, 15 November, and Sunday, 16 November 2025 in Ibadan.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr O. Adeyemi, argued that INEC, being a Federal Government agency, is subject only to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. He urged the court to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction.
However, counsel to the claimant, Mr Musibau Adetumbi, SAN, opposed the objection, stating that the argument infringed on the claimant’s fundamental rights. He said the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to lawful assembly and convention.
Quoting Section 251 of the Constitution, Mr Adetumbi contended that INEC does not fall within the category of agencies that place the case exclusively before the Federal High Court. He asked the court to dismiss the objection and proceed with the substantive suit.
After listening to both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola, adjourned the ruling to December 8, 2025.
He also reaffirmed that the interim order earlier granted, which restrains the defendants from disrupting or interfering with preparations for the PDP national convention, remains in force.
Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to the 5th, 6th, and 7th defendants, who are seeking to be joined in the suit, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, described the adjournment as an unnecessary delay.
The defendants in the suit are the PDP (1st defendant), its Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun (2nd defendant), and the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who chairs the PDP Convention Organising Committee (3rd defendant). INEC is the 4th defendant.
Recall that the same court earlier extended its interim order restraining any interference with the planned convention until further hearing, ensuring that the event proceeds as scheduled.