By Nnochiri Ikechukwu
On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja halted further proceedings in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis until the Court of Appeal’s ruling was made.
In a decision rendered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the court relied on the notice of appeal presented to it by a party section headed by Mr. Kabiru Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Justice Abdulmalik emphasized that the trial court must use caution when such a notification has been properly filed and the appeal record has been submitted.
As a result, she postponed the substantive topic until February 20 for discussion.
The lawsuit, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, aims to overturn the results of the National Convention that took place on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of the group supporting Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, took it before the court.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC; the Inspector General of Police; the Commissioner of Police, or FCT Command; and the State Security Service, or SSS, were among the defendants in the case, along with everyone elected at the Ibadan convention.
In addition to requesting an injunction to prevent the 5th through 25th defendants (who were formed through the Ibadan convention) “from parading themselves, representing themselves or allowing themselves to be represented as officers or representatives of the 1st plaintiff (PDP) in any capacity whatsoever,” the litigants also requested an order prohibiting the INEC from acknowledging or interacting with the party as its representatives.
They also asked the court to prevent the defendants from “invading” the PDP’s national headquarters and to prohibit INEC from identifying any address other than Wadata Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, as the party’s head office.
In addition, “an order of mandatory injunction directing the second, third, and fourth defendants to provide adequate security and security cover for the plaintiffs (including the successors of the second and third plaintiffs) for the conduct of the business and affairs of the first plaintiff at Plot 1970, Wadata Plaza, Michael Okpara Way, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja and/or Legacy House, Plot 2774, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja and the surrounding areas.”
Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the attorney for the Turaki-led group, had asked trial Judge Abdulmalik to postpone the case sine die (indefinitely) when it came up on Friday.
He contended that the trial court was immediately deprived of its authority to continue after the appeal was filed.
Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who represented the PDP bloc that supported FCT Minister Wike, disagreed with the plea, claiming that the appellate court had not issued an order halting the case’s hearing.
Ikpeazu, SAN, noted that what was before the appellate court was an interlocutory matter and argued that filing an appeal does not automatically stop a trial court procedure.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-supporting side, Hon. Haruna Jangudu, responded to the hearing’s postponement by accusing the defendants of purposefully delaying the case.
“How can you wake up and declare that you no longer trust the presiding judge? Why didn’t they wait for the judge to make a decision? They could have filed an appeal and presented their case if they weren’t happy with the result. Jangudu bemoaned, “This is about the third judge they have accused of bias.”
In the meantime, the Turaki-led group’s request to force security services to provide them access to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja was denied by the court.
Despite their request to have the motion stricken out, Justice Abdulmalik determined that dismissal was the proper judgment because all parties have already joined concerns.
The group had requested that the trial judge step down from the case, claiming that she had made extensive interlocutory orders that were biased against them.
They insisted, “There is a reasonable and well-founded apprehension of the likelihood of bias against the 5th to 25th Defendants/Applicants in the manner this suit has been handled by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Abduimalik.”
