Court bars Turaki-Led PDP faction from Abuja secretariat, upholds Wike-Led leadership

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) from accessing the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affirming the leadership of the Wike-aligned faction.

The order arose from a suit filed by members loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Justice Abdulmalik declared that the national convention organized by the Turaki-led faction in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025, and the subsequent election of party officials, violated Section 287(3) of the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution. She described the expulsion of Wike and his allies during the convention as “an affront to the subsisting judgment” and a “direct assault on a democratic and principled society.”

The judge held that all proceedings, resolutions, and decisions from the Ibadan convention, including member suspensions, were unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void. She further restrained security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS), from granting access to the Turaki faction while directing that adequate protection be provided to the Abdulrahman-led PDP leadership.

The suit, brought by Abdulrahman as acting National Chairman along with the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, sought to prevent the Turaki faction from parading themselves as PDP representatives and to stop INEC from recognising any office address other than that recorded in its records. Justice Abdulmalik granted these declaratory and injunctive reliefs.

The Turaki-led faction had challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal and filed motions requesting the judge’s recusal, alleging bias. Justice Abdulmalik rejected these claims, stating there was “no shred of evidence” supporting the allegations and emphasizing that dissatisfaction with her ruling is a matter for appeal, not recusal.

She also dismissed arguments that the court lacked jurisdiction or that the plaintiffs had no legal standing, noting that the suit involved interpreting and enforcing constitutional and statutory provisions alongside compliance with earlier court judgments.

The Wike-led PDP, on Sunday, held its national convention in Abuja, during which Abdulrahman emerged as the substantive national chairman. The ruling consolidates the position of Wike’s faction as the legitimate leadership of the PDP at the federal level.

This decision comes amid a series of conflicting court judgments from 2025, including rulings by the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Oyo State High Court, which previously barred the Turaki faction from holding a convention.

The judgment underscores the court’s insistence on enforcing judicial decisions and upholding the rule of law in internal party disputes.