Wike-Backed PDP Faction Drags INEC, Police To Court Over ‘Illegal Convention’, Takeover Of Party Secretariat

 

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT);Minister, Nyesom Wike, has instituted a lawsuit before a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the recently concluded national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, the plaintiffs — the PDP (as an institution), Mohammed Abdulrahman, Acting National Chairman, and Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary — are urging the court to nullify the convention held between 15 and 16 November, describing it as “illegal, unconstitutional and conducted in total violation of subsisting court orders.”

The Wike-backed faction is asking the court to declare all actions, resolutions, elections, and appointments made during the Ibadan convention as “null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

Moves To Stop INEC, Security Agencies From Recognising New Leaders

The plaintiffs are also seeking a far-reaching order restraining INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, and other security agencies from recognising or dealing with the 6th to 25th defendants, which include:

• Umar Damagum
• Kabiru Turaki, the newly announced National Chairman
• Other prominent PDP leaders elected or affirmed at the Ibadan convention.

According to the suit, recognising these individuals would amount to endorsing what they describe as an illegitimate takeover of the PDP national secretariat by a rival faction.

Convention Violated Court Judgements — Plaintiffs

In the originating summons, the Wike-aligned faction insists that the Ibadan convention was organised “in flagrant disregard of three subsisting judgments” of the Federal High Court, which they say outlawed any national convention or leadership change pending the determination of existing internal disputes.

They further argue that the decision of the rival bloc to proceed with the convention — despite being served with the relevant court orders — was a deliberate attempt to hijack the party’s structure through illegal means.

Raging Battle For Control Of PDP

The suit underscores the deepening split within the PDP, with both camps laying claim to the party’s leadership and national secretariat in Abuja. The outcome of the litigation may determine which faction ultimately controls the opposition party ahead of the 2025 election cycle.

The Federal High Court is expected to issue hearing notices in the coming days as the battle for the soul of the PDP moves from political meetings to the courtroom.