Wike-backed PDP Faction Sues INEC, Police, Over Illegal Convention, Takeover of Party Secretariat

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the FCT minister Nyesom Wike has filed a suit before the federal high court in Abuja seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on November 15 and 16.

In the suit, the party, alongside Mohammed Abdulrahman, acting national chairman, and Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary, is asking the court to declare the convention and all decisions taken at the event as “null, void and of no effect”.

The plaintiffs belong to the PDP loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Samuel Anyanwu, Nyesom Wike, Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti governor, and eight other party chieftains were expelled from the PDP during the convention in Ibadan.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order restraining security agencies and INEC from recognising Umar Damagum, Kabiru Turaki, new national chairman, and other prominent members — as PDP officials.

In the originating summons, the plaintiffs argue that the Ibadan convention was conducted in flagrant disregard of three subsisting judgements of the federal high court.

In addition, the plaintiffs want the court to direct the security agencies to provide adequate protection for them and to grant them access to Wadata Plaza and Legacy House for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the party.

They further ask the court to restrain INEC from accepting any change of address for the PDP other than the two existing official locations in Abuja.

In another twist, the Tanimu Turaki led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court against cases assigned to courts presided over by three judges, describing them as “Courts of Particular Concern”.

In a letter dated November 19, 2025 by the National Secretary of the faction, Teofeek Arapaja and addressed to Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the party listed the courts as those presided over by Hon. Justice James Omotosho, Hon. Justice Peter Odo Lifu and Hon. Justice Abduimalik.

While Justice Omotosho and Lifu issued judgements stopping the party from proceeding with its just concluded national Convention in Ibadan, Justice Abdulmalalik is currently entertaining a suit against the party and INEC.