Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that even
though a restraining order has been issued against the PDP not to go ahead with
the planned convention, which called for his celebration, he nonetheless felt
bad that he was forced to opt for the court action.

The former governor recalled his long relationship with the
PDP, which culminated in his election as Governor of Jigawa State and his
appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister, and noted that he opted for court
action against the PDP to get justice for himself.

He said that as a bona fide member of the PDP, he had
approached the national leadership of the party to purchase the national
chairmanship nomination form but was denied.

“In this case, if my party lost, I also lost. I feel like
crying taking this path. When we fight as brothers, the trust is lost; the bond
of brotherhood is also lost,” he said.

The former governor spoke with newsmen shortly after Justice
Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, made an interim order restraining
the PDP from holding its 2025 National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan,
Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.

The court also barred the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing the outcome of
the National Convention where national officers are expected to be elected.

Justice Lifu issued the fresh order while delivering ruling
in a motion on notice brought by the former governor against the PDP, which he
said denied him the opportunity to buy the chairmanship nomination form to
enable him to participate in the convention.

The judge predicated the restriction order against the PDP
on the grounds that the party refused, neglected, and failed to comply with
relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.

The judge held that evidence from Lamido showed that the
timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members
as required by law.

Justice Lifu also held that the balance of convenience
tilted towards Lamido because he would suffer more if allowed to be unlawfully
excluded from the planned convention.

To make remedy, the judge said that the former governor had
undertaken to pay damages to the PDP in the event that his suit was found to be
frivolous.

According to the judge, in a constitutional democracy, due
process of law must be strictly followed by those in charge, adding that to do
otherwise would endanger democracy itself.

He also said that in line with Section 6 of the 1999
Constitution, a court of law must not abdicate its role of dispensing justice
without fear or favour.

Justice Lifu held that anarchy would be the order of the
day, anytime, anywhere, if the court of record abdicated its constitutionally
assigned functions.

In his final pronouncement, the judge restrained the PDP
from proceeding with the convention billed for November 15 and 16 or any other
date in Ibadan or any other place.

He also stopped INEC from supervising, monitoring, or
recognizing the outcome of any convention that may be organized by the PDP.

Meanwhile, parties in the matter adopted their various
briefs on Tuesday, and the court fixed November 13 to deliver judgment in the
substantive matter filed by the former governor.

It will be recalled that another judge of the same court,
James Omotosho, had on October 31 issued similar orders stopping INEC from
supervising or recognizing the outcome of the convention if conducted, on the
grounds that due process was not followed in the way the convention was being
planned.

Besides, Omotosho held that the PDP failed to issue the
mandatory 21 days’ notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC to carry
out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.

Justice Omotosho held that the failure of the PDP to comply
with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy and subsequently
advised the PDP to do the necessary before going ahead with the election.

He therefore restrained INEC from receiving, publishing, or
recognizing the outcome of the convention slated for Ibadan until the law has
been complied with.