
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, is believed to be backed by Wike, who has been at odds with the party’s leadership over the convention timetable..
Court Rejects Request by Wike’s Allies to Stop PDP National Convention A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by allies of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its upcoming leadership meetings and national convention.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho rejected an ex parte application filed by three PDP officials—Austine Nwachukwu (Imo State chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State chairman), and Turnah George (South-South secretary)—seeking interim orders to restrain both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with the scheduled events.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, is believed to be backed by Wike, who has been at odds with the party’s leadership over the convention timetable. Despite remaining a member of the PDP, Wike is widely perceived to be working to stall the party’s restructuring efforts while aligning strategically with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Plaintiffs Sought to Block NEC Meeting and Convention The applicants had asked the court to compel INEC to prevent the PDP from holding “any meetings, congresses, or conventions unless proper notice and a democratic process” were guaranteed. They specifically wanted the NEC meeting fixed for October 18 and the national convention slated for November 15–16 in Ibadan to be suspended pending the hearing of their substantive suit.

They further sought to bar INEC from monitoring any PDP leadership gatherings—including NEC, caucus, or National Working Committee (NWC) meetings—and from accepting statutory notices relating to the convention from top party officials such as National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
Additionally, they urged the court to order all parties to maintain the status quo until their interlocutory application is heard. Judge Cautions Parties Against Preemptive Moves Advertisements Justice Omotosho, however, refused to grant the ex parte injunction, ruling simply: “The motion ex parte for interim injunction is hereby refused.”
He ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants with their motion on notice and warned all parties against taking actions that could undermine the court’s eventual decision. “Any step, decision or act taken to make the outcome of a judicial process… nugatory shall be deemed to be a nullity,” the judge cautioned.
The case has been adjourned to October 14 for the hearing of the motion on notice. Advertisements Background: Wike vs. PDP Leadership Efforts to halt the PDP convention have been ongoing since June, when Wike reportedly met with party leaders from the South-South and South-East to push for a postponement. The convention, initially scheduled for August 28, was tentatively shifted, with fresh proposals suggesting October—though the party leadership affirmed the November date. With the court declining to intervene—for now—the PDP appears legally free to push ahead with preparations. However, the October 14 hearing will determine whether further legal hurdles await the convention.