A faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike filed a lawsuit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday in an attempt to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the PDP’s recent national convention, which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State. This move further escalated the crisis plaguing the PDP.
The PDP, Acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu filed a lawsuit under the number FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, requesting that the court rule that the November 15–16 Ibadan convention and all decisions made there were “null, void, and of no effect.”
The claimants, all of whom support the Wike camp, maintain that the convention was held in flagrant violation of three Federal High Court rulings.
They contended that the court had previously declared the convention’s 21-day notice to be invalid and specifically prohibited the party from holding any such exercise.
The plaintiffs referenced the following in the original summons:
the ruling in Austin Nwachukwu v. INEC & Ors, FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, on October 31;
Sule Lamido v. PDP & Ors, FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, the November 11 interim order and the November 14 verdict;
the ruling in FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 (Nyesom Wike v. PDP & Ors) on May 31, 2023.
The plaintiffs claimed that the 5th through 25th defendants, which included Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, and other notable members, organized themselves and their allies and called the Ibadan convention, where important party members were expelled and national officers were chosen, in spite of these decisions.
According to Anyanwu’s declaration, the Damagum-led group made an effort on November 18 to “forcibly take control” of the PDP national secretariat located in Abuja’s Wadata Plaza and Legacy House.
He claims that the Department of State Services and police “sealed up the premises” and prevented lawful authorities from entering their offices rather than carrying out the court orders.
According to the affidavit, “the second and third plaintiffs have been denied access to their offices and the first plaintiff’s premises has been sealed up by the second to fourth defendants.”
The plaintiffs requested that the court rule that the DSS, INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, and the FCT Commissioner of Police are required by the constitution to uphold the previous rulings.
They also pursue:
an order prohibiting INEC and security forces from acknowledging the choices made at the Ibadan convention;
an injunction prohibiting the sixth through twenty-fifth defendants from posing as PDP representatives;
a directive requiring the plaintiffs’ access to Wadata Plaza and Legacy House and their protection from the security agencies;
an order prohibiting INEC from accepting any modifications to the PDP’s official address outside of its two Abuja headquarters.
The plaintiffs further requested that the court rule on whether any body may legitimately recognize the Ibadan convention in light of the PDP Constitution, the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the existing rulings.
A judge has not yet been assigned to the case, and no hearing date has been set.
