The Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police from recognising the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16. The faction also aims to prevent what it describes as an illegal takeover of the PDP’s national secretariat.
Filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, the plaintiffs, including Mohammed Abdulrahman, factional acting national chairman, and Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary, are 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 faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. During the Ibadan convention, Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose, and eight other party chieftains were expelled from the party.
The faction is also seeking an order restraining security agencies and INEC from recognising the sixth to 25th defendants, including Umar Damagum, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, the new national chairman, and other prominent party members, as PDP officials.
In the originating summons, the plaintiffs argue that the Ibadan convention was conducted in flagrant disregard of three existing Federal High Court judgments. They referenced:
The plaintiffs assert that these decisions nullified the 21-day notice issued for the national convention and expressly restrained the party from conducting the exercise. Despite the court rulings, they claim the fifth to 25th defendants convened in Ibadan, elected national officers, and announced the suspension or expulsion of prominent members.
In an affidavit deposed by former Anyanwu, the PDP national secretary stated that on November 18, the opposing group attempted to forcibly take control of the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza and Legacy House in Abuja but failed. He further said that instead of enforcing the court orders, the police and Department of State Services (DSS) sealed the secretariat, denying legitimate party officers access.
“The 2nd to 4th defendants have now sealed up the premises of the 1st plaintiff and denied the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs access to their offices,” the affidavit read.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police, and the DSS are constitutionally bound to enforce the earlier judgments. They also seek orders restraining the defendants from recognising the Ibadan convention or any decisions arising from it, and preventing the sixth to 25th defendants from parading themselves as PDP officials.
Additionally, the plaintiffs are requesting that security agencies provide adequate protection for them and grant access to Wadata Plaza and Legacy House to conduct party affairs. They want INEC restrained from accepting any change of address for the PDP beyond the two existing official locations in Abuja.
