PDP leadership dispute: Court adjourns Wike-led PDP suit, dismisses Turaki’s case

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, adjourned a suit filed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s faction loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, until Feb. 20 to await an Appeal Court’s decision.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter following the appeal filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership of the PDP to challenge the interim order made by the court for parties in the suit to stay any action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Our correspondent reports that a faction of the party in the camp of the FCT minister, led by its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, had filed the suit.

In the suit, the PDP, Abdulrahman and Sen. Sameul Anyanwu, the factional National Secretary, had prayed the court to stop the police and Department of State Services (DSS) from allowing Turaki-led leadership (5th to 25th defendants) access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadara Plaza in Abuja.

They also sought an order of injunction, restraining the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any other office address or any other address from the Turaki-led leadership as the PDP’s office address other than as already contained in the commission’s records.

They sought an order of injunction, restraining the Turaki leadership (5th to 25 defendants) from parading themselves as representatives of the PDP in any capacity whatsoever, among other reliefs.

Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte motion brought by the plaintiffs directing parties not to take any action pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Following the order, the Turaki-led chairman of the PDP challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal.

They also filed an application for the court to stay proceedings in the suit pending the decision of the Appeal Court.

The Turaki faction, through their lawyer, equally filed a motion on notice asking Justice Abdulmalik to recuse (withdraw) herself from the case.

They argued that there exists a reasonable and well-founded apprehension of likelihood of bias against them in the manner the suit had been handled by the judge.

Upon resumed hearing on the case, Justice Abdulmalik held that it would amount to an exercise in futility to continue proceedings, an appeal, having been entered at the appellate court.

She then adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 for report on the Appeal Court decision.

In a related development, the judge dismissed another suit, on Friday, filed by the PDP leadership led by Turaki.

Justice Abdulmalik made the order for its dismissal after a motion for its discontinuance was moved by their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who urged the court to strike the matter out.

However, the judge dismissed the suit since issues had been joined in the case.

The plaintiffs; PDP, its National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki and the National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2520/2025, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Nigerian Police as 1st and 2nd defendants.

The plaintiffs had asked the court for an order directing the officers of the police to vacate their national headquarters located at Wadata Plaza in Wuse, Abuja, among other reliefs.

But the judge had, on Jan. 16, made an order joining the parties seeking to be joined in the suit.

They are the PDP’s acting National Chairman of the Wike faction, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman; Sen. Sameul Anyanwu, the National Secretary and the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Sen Mao Ohuabunwa.