Turaki-Led NWC Vs Wike Camp: Court Fixes Date For PDP Leadership Battle

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 23, 2026, to hear an application seeking to halt further proceedings in the legal battle between rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The application for a stay of proceedings was filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP leadership against a suit initiated by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The Wike-led faction, which includes acting National Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman and factional National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, filed the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025) seeking to stop the Turaki-led group from “parading themselves as representatives of the PDP in any capacity whatsoever.”

They are also asking the court to:

Bar the police and DSS from granting the Turaki-led group access to the party’s national headquarters, Wadara Plaza, in Abuja.
Restrain INEC from recognizing any office address for the PDP other than the one currently in its official records.
Declare that security agencies are “constitutionally bound to enforce and give full effect” to previous court rulings delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu.

The Turaki-led leadership, through their counsel Chief Chris Uche, SAN, has formally asked Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the case, citing a “reasonable and well-founded apprehension of likelihood of bias.”

Uche argued that the 5th to 25th defendants had previously petitioned the Chief Judge to ensure no PDP internal disputes were assigned to Justice Abdulmalik due to “past antecedents and perceived partisanship.”

He further claimed that an ex-parte order previously granted by the judge reached too far, noting:“The orders made ex-parte by the judge when there was no real urgency touched directly on and determined the main substance of the suit at such a preliminary and interim stage.”

Because the Turaki-led group has appealed the court’s earlier decisions, Uche maintained that the trial court must stop its proceedings, stating:“It is trite and beyond dispute that once an appeal has been entered, the trial court is ceased to take further proceedings or further hearing in the suit.”

Conversely, the lawyer for the Wike-led faction, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued that an appeal does not mean an automatic pause on the case.

He noted:“The bottom line is the appeal is against the interlocutory decision of my lord,” arguing that the court maintains the power to decide how to proceed while the subject matter is determined.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter after learning that the plaintiffs had only been served with the motion for a stay of proceedings late the previous day.

She directed Dr. Ikpeazu to file a formal response and set the hearing for January 23.

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