Wike vs Turaki: Step Aside You’re Biased — PDP Faction Tells Judge

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The ongoing leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dramatic turn at the Federal High Court in Abuja after a faction of the party formally requested that the presiding judge step aside from the case. The development has further complicated an already tense legal battle over the legitimacy of the party’s recent national convention.

According to Gossip News Now, the application was filed by members of the PDP faction associated with Kabiru Turaki (SAN), who are challenging the neutrality of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. The group believes the judge’s continued involvement could compromise the fairness of proceedings tied to the disputed convention outcome.

Court Case Challenging Ibadan Convention

The core legal dispute revolves around a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results of the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, has drawn national attention as rival factions within the party struggle for control of its leadership structure.

Justice Abdulmalik has already postponed further hearings in the matter, setting January 14, 2026, as the new date for proceedings and consideration of various pending applications connected to the suit.

Allegations of Partiality

The Turaki-aligned camp, represented by a legal team comprising seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria, argued that certain developments in the courtroom have created what they described as a legitimate concern about possible bias.

Chief Chris Uche (SAN) led the legal move requesting the judge’s recusal. The application was filed on behalf of Ambassador Umar Damagum, the former Acting National Chairman, alongside other party officials who emerged from the Ibadan convention and are listed among the defendants in the case.

In their submission, the lawyers stated that circumstances surrounding earlier decisions in the case could make an objective observer question the neutrality of the court.

Earlier Petition to the Chief Judge

The faction revealed that before the case was assigned, they had already raised concerns with the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. In that petition, they asked that Justice Abdulmalik and two other judges should not be assigned to matters involving the PDP due to what they described as previous experiences and perceived affiliations.

Despite the petition, the case was eventually allocated to Justice Abdulmalik, a development that the faction says intensified their worries about impartiality.

Dispute Over Ex Parte Order

A key issue highlighted in the recusal application relates to an ex parte order issued on November 25, 2025.

The Turaki faction claimed that although the court had earlier rejected a similar urgent application from the rival camp believed to be loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the same court later granted an order affecting their own group.

According to their legal team, the directive barred them from performing certain roles on behalf of the party. They further argued that the order appeared strikingly similar to a previous ruling delivered by Justice Omotosho in another PDP-related case.

The lawyers insisted that the situation created doubts about whether the case was being handled in a balanced manner.

Court Says Application Cannot Proceed Yet

When the matter was mentioned in court, Justice Abdulmalik stated that the motion requesting her withdrawal was not yet ripe for hearing.

She explained that not all parties involved in the litigation had been properly served with the application, which is a procedural requirement before such a request can be considered. As a result, the judge adjourned the matter along with other pending issues to January 14, 2026.

What the Plaintiffs Want From the Court

The lawsuit itself was initiated by a rival PDP bloc believed to be aligned with Nyesom Wike.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Mohammed Abdulrahman, who is described as Acting National Chairman, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s National Secretary.

Through the case, they are seeking several court directives, including:

A declaration invalidating the Ibadan convention and all resolutions reached during the event
A court order preventing officials linked to the Turaki faction from functioning as PDP leaders
An injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing those officials
Security intervention from agencies such as the Inspector General of Police, the FCT Police Command, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure access to party offices including Wadata Plaza and Legacy House

Parallel Legal Action

In a related development, the Turaki camp also filed another lawsuit seeking the removal of police personnel from the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza.

That separate case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2520/2025, was also before Justice Abdulmalik but has now been postponed until January 16, 2026.

Political Implications

Political observers say the legal battle highlights the deep divisions within the PDP ahead of future electoral contests. The rivalry between factions associated with prominent figures in the party has increasingly shifted from internal negotiations to the courtroom.

According to Gossip News Now reports that, the outcome of these legal proceedings could significantly shape the leadership structure of the opposition party and determine which faction ultimately gains control of the party’s national machinery.

Commentary and Analysis

The controversy surrounding the recusal request reflects broader tensions within Nigerian party politics, where internal disagreements frequently escalate into legal battles. In many cases, court rulings become decisive in determining leadership legitimacy.

Analysts note that the argument over judicial neutrality, while procedural on the surface, also carries strategic political weight. If the application succeeds, the case could be reassigned to another judge, potentially altering the trajectory of the dispute.

At the same time, the adjournment indicates that the courts may take time before addressing the substantive issues at the center of the crisis — particularly the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention and the authority of those claiming leadership positions within the PDP.

With multiple lawsuits and competing claims, the struggle for control of the party appears far from resolved.