On Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal High Court fixed January 23, 2026, to hear an application seeking to halt further proceedings in a leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The case involves the faction led by Kabiru Turaki and another group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and centres on who has the right to act for the party.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to allow the lawyers representing the plaintiffs to respond formally to the application for a stay of proceedings filed by the Turaki-led group. The suit before the court was brought by the Wike-aligned faction through its acting national officers, who are asking the court to stop the Turaki group from presenting itself as the party’s leadership.
The plaintiffs are also seeking orders to prevent security agencies from granting the Turaki faction access to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja and to stop the electoral commission from recognising any new office address submitted by that group. They further want the court to affirm that earlier court decisions affecting the party must be enforced by relevant authorities.
Earlier in the case, the court had issued an interim order directing all parties to maintain the status quo until the matter is resolved. The Turaki-led faction challenged that decision at the Court of Appeal and filed a motion asking the trial judge to step aside, alleging bias.
At the latest hearing, counsel to the Turaki faction informed the court that their appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal and argued that this should stop the lower court from taking further steps. The plaintiffs’ lawyer disagreed, stating that filing an appeal does not automatically suspend proceedings, especially where the appeal is against an interim ruling.
Justice Abdulmalik confirmed that the response to the stay application had not yet been filed and directed the plaintiffs to do so. She then adjourned the case to January 23 for the court to hear and decide on the request to pause proceedings.
After the session, a spokesperson of the PDP caretaker committee said the group remains confident, pointing to previous court judgments related to the party’s internal disputes. The case continues to draw attention as both factions await the court’s next decision on whether the matter will proceed or be put on hold.
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