The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a fresh twist as loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over an ex parte order granted by Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court permitting the party to hold its national convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16.
In the petitio dated November 5, 2025, and acknowledged by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, Wike’s associates — Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George — accused the judge of “judicial recklessness and impunity.”
They alleged that Justice Akintola’s ex parte order, issued on November 4, directly contradicted a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on October 31, 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which restrained the PDP from holding its convention on those same dates.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, the PDP chairman in Imo State, flanked by Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna from Abia State, said the Oyo court’s decision amounted to “sitting on appeal” over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
“This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system,” Nwachukwu said.
He urged the NJC to take swift disciplinary action, citing previous instances where the council had acted promptly in similar cases in Rivers, Imo, and other states.
“The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Ibadan, journalists were on Monday barred from entering the courtroom to cover proceedings in the ongoing suit over the PDP convention, as security operatives restricted access to only accredited personnel.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Ladiran Akintola adjourned the hearing of the Motion on Notice filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, and others to Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The court had earlier granted an ex parte order allowing the PDP to proceed with preparations for its convention and directed parties to file all necessary processes for the substantive hearing.
The claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, is seeking to restrain the PDP, Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking any action that could frustrate the planned convention.
Justice Akintola, however, directed that the PDP must adhere strictly to its guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities for the convention.
