Oyo Court dismisses joinder application in 2025 PDP elective convention case

2026-02-25 - 16:28

By Adeola Badru IBADAN – The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has dismissed a motion seeking joinder filed by Austin Nwachukwu and two other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in connection with the party’s 2025 Elective Convention. Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled on Wednesday that the application “lacks merit” because the PDP had already been joined as a defendant in the ongoing suit, making it unnecessary to add individual members as interested parties. “The PDP is a defendant in the ongoing suit filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the Chairman of the PDP, Damagum, and Rt. Hon. Umaru Fintiri. It is neither necessary nor desirable for any of its members to be joined as a party in the same suit,” the judge said. The claimants’ counsel, Sunday Ibrahim, SAN, had argued that his clients were previously defendants in a related Federal High Court case in Ibadan, which was decided in their favour, and should therefore be included as interested parties. However, the court rejected this argument. The claimants have since appealed the ruling. In the meantime, separate motions for a stay of proceedings and to amend the originating summons have been filed, with Justice Akintola indicating that dates for rulings will be communicated to the parties in due course.