Why holding PDP Convention is illegal — Party chieftain

George Turnah, Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South Zone, has criticized the Board of Trustees (BoT) for rejecting the recommendations of the party’s reconciliation committee, which was tasked with resolving internal conflicts and ensuring the peaceful conduct of the 2025 national convention.

Turnah described the insistence by a faction of the party to proceed with the convention despite a court order as illegal and an act of impunity.

Activities at Lekan Salami Stadium, the venue slated for the convention, reportedly remain upbeat as preparations continue for the two-day event.

Speaking on the matter, Turnah said: “It is important to state that there is no PDP convention going on anywhere. Nigerians are free to assemble, and freedom of movement is guaranteed. The Governor of Oyo State also has the right to host any gathering, whether PDP members or otherwise. He can host owambe or other social events—it’s okay—but we are law-abiding citizens.”

He further criticized the leadership for ignoring judicial directives: “It even says a lot about the leadership of the party. When we complain about impunity, people may not understand the gravity of it. The court judgment clearly states the convention should not hold now. INEC has not given clearance, and the party was asked to review certain processes before proceeding.”

Turnah also raised concerns about transparency and adherence to party procedures: “The court has made findings, including the exclusion of respected founding member Sule Lamido. Nigerians do not yet know who the aspirants are. PDP has a structured process for picking forms and conducting campaigns, usually with media involvement and nationwide engagements. None of these elements were evident in the build-up to this convention.”