The deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Friday as the faction loyal to National Chairman Kabiru Turaki (SAN) formally asked Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court to step aside from a contentious suit challenging the party’s national leadership.
The application for her withdrawal was filed by senior advocate Chris Uche, who led the legal team representing the 5th to 25th defendants, key members of the Turaki-led national executive.
The request followed a case instituted by a rival faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and fronted by its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman.
In the motion, Uche argued that his clients had lost confidence in the court’s ability to provide an unbiased hearing.
He cited what he described as several troubling developments surrounding the handling of the suit, which was filed on November 21.
The defence is seeking two principal reliefs:
1. That Justice Abdulmalik recuse herself from further involvement in the matter due to what they claim is a “reasonable apprehension of bias.”
2. That the case be reassigned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to another judge for a fresh hearing.
Uche told the court that the constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing, embedded in Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, requires not only impartiality but also the appearance of neutrality.
He insisted that recent rulings delivered by Justice Abdulmalik raised legitimate concerns for his clients.
According to Uche, the defendants had already petitioned the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, urging that disputes involving the PDP’s internal affairs should not be assigned to Justice Abdulmalik or two other judges in the Abuja division.
He said the letter referenced previous cases in which the judges were believed to have shown partiality.
Despite the objection, the matter was still assigned to Justice Abdulmalik.
Uche argued that the judge’s decision to proceed with ex parte orders—issued only days after the petition was submitted—further heightened the defendants’ concerns.
The defence counsel noted that the ex parte orders, although framed as refusals of the plaintiffs’ prayers, nonetheless imposed additional and far-reaching restrictions on his clients.
He described the orders as strikingly similar to those earlier issued by Justice James Omotosho in related suits, suggesting a pattern that “goes beyond coincidence.”
Uche said the orders touched directly on the core issues of the PDP national convention and the party’s internal structure matters he argued should not be determined at a preliminary stage, especially where no urgent circumstances were involved.
“The justice system must both be fair and be seen to be fair,” he said, adding that the continued involvement of Justice Abdulmalik risked undermining confidence in the entire process.
The suit filed by the Wike-backed faction seeks a series of court orders, including restraining the Turaki-led executives from parading themselves as representatives of the PDP.
They also want the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decline any attempt by the Turaki team to register a new office address for the party.
The plaintiffs further requested judicial declarations compelling INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Police Commissioner, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce earlier judgments delivered by Justices Omotosho and Peter Lifu on matters involving the same party crisis.
Senior Advocate Onyechi Ikpeazu appeared for the plaintiffs, while police counsel Mimi Ayua represented the law enforcement defendants.
At Friday’s sitting, all counsel informed the court that they had not yet exchanged all necessary processes.
Justice Abdulmalik therefore adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, to allow all parties to file and regularise their documents before the substantive hearing.
Later in the day, a second suit filed by the Turaki-led PDP came up before the same judge.
Turkey Aondo represented the plaintiffs, while Ayua again appeared for the police.
However, counsel Ken Njemanze, representing parties seeking to be joined in the lawsuit.including Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said he had not been served with the relevant papers.
Justice Abdulmalik instructed the parties to ensure proper service of all documents and adjourned the matter to January 16, 2026 for the hearing of all pending applications.
In that second suit, the Turaki group seeks an order directing the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Police Command to withdraw officers stationed at the party’s national headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
As the legal battles continue, the PDP’s longstanding internal feud shows no sign of easing, with both factions intensifying their courtroom strategies ahead of the party’s next national convention.
