Battle for PDP: Wike camp heads to court to stop INEC from recognising Ibadan convention

Battle for PDP: Wike camp heads to court to stop INEC from recognising Ibadan convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal o the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to void the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, the group, along with its acting national chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, and national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu is asking the court to declare the Ibadan convention and all decisions taken there as “null, void and of no effect.”

The plaintiffs are members of the PDP faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During the Ibadan convention, Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose, and eight other party leaders were expelled from the party.

The suit also seeks an order restraining security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the 6th to 25th defendants, including the new national chairman Umar Damagum, Kabiru Turaki, and other prominent PDP figures as officers of the party.

Plaintiffs Cite Violated Court Orders

In their originating summons, the plaintiffs argue that the convention was organised in total disregard of three subsisting judgements of the Federal High Court.

They referenced:

  • The October 31 ruling in FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025: Austine Nwachukwu v INEC & Ors
  • The November 11 interim order and November 14 judgement in FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025: Sule Lamido v PDP & Ors
  • The May 31, 2023 judgement in FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023: Nyesom Wike v PDP & Ors

According to them, the court orders invalidated the 21-day notice for the convention and explicitly barred the PDP from conducting the exercise.

Despite this, they allege, the 5th to 25th defendants “organised themselves and their cohorts” to convene the Ibadan gathering, elect new national officers, and announce suspensions and expulsions.

‘Attempt to Seize PDP Secretariat’

In an affidavit, Anyanwu claimed that on November 18, the opposing faction attempted to “forcibly take control” of the PDP’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza and its Legacy House annex in Abuja.

Instead of enforcing the earlier court orders, he said, the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) sealed both buildings and denied him and other legitimate 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 states.

What the Plaintiffs Are Asking For

The plaintiffs want the court to declare that:

  • INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police, and the DSS are legally bound to enforce the earlier judgements.
  • The Ibadan convention and its outcomes must not be recognised or acted upon.
  • The 6th to 25th defendants should be barred from presenting themselves as PDP officials.

They also seek:

  • An order compelling security agencies to provide them protection and restore their access to Wadata Plaza and Legacy House.
  • A directive restraining INEC from accepting any change of address for the PDP outside its two official Abuja locations.
  • A judicial determination on whether any authority can lawfully recognise the Ibadan convention given existing court orders and relevant laws, including the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the PDP constitution.

The suit has not yet been assigned to a judge, and no hearing date has been scheduled.

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