Preparations for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered momentum on Friday, November 14, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State, even as the party remains entangled in legal uncertainty and internal power tussles.

At the venue, workers were seen arranging seats, mounting party banners and testing sound and lighting equipment while senior officials moved around the stadium to inspect various sections ahead of the two-day event billed for Saturday and Sunday, Naijaonpoint reports.

Despite a series of conflicting court rulings, disagreements among party stakeholders, and threats to derail the exercise, delegates from across the federation have started arriving in Ibadan.

Naijaonpoint reports that the PDP has, in recent weeks, been embroiled in a leadership crisis fuelled by contradictory court judgments from different jurisdictions, some halting preparations for the convention, others granting approval for it to proceed.

Calls for the formation of a caretaker committee have intensified, with several party chieftains, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, urging the leadership to suspend the convention until all legal matters are resolved.

However, influential voices within the party, including elder statesman Chief Bode George, have insisted that the convention must go ahead as scheduled, dismissing attempts to halt it as “unnecessary and unconstitutional.”

The conflicting positions have created widespread confusion among members, leaving the party divided over the path forward.

Against this backdrop, the atmosphere in Ibadan remained energetic on Friday, with artisans, event planners and media crews stationed at the stadium to ensure smooth preparations.

Mobile security posts, party-coloured tents, welcome banners and accreditation points were also seen being set up by the organising committee.

Officials said final rehearsals for protocol, logistics, arrivals and security screening would continue into Friday night.

Below are pictures from the ongoing preparations at the Lekan Salami Stadium as the PDP pushes ahead with its contentious national convention.