By Jimmy Dodo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has suspended hearing in the leadership tussle rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to await the decision of the Court of Appeal.
The trial judge, Justice Abdulmalik, ruled that since a notice of appeal had been filed and records transmitted, the court must exercise restraint.
The matter was accordingly adjourned to February 20 for mention.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, seeks to nullify the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November last year.
It was filed by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, leaders of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
They are asking the court to restrain officials elected at the convention from parading themselves as party leaders, and to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising them.
The plaintiffs also seek protection of the PDP national headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
Counsel to the rival faction led by Mr. Kabiru Turaki, SAN, argued that the appeal had removed the trial court’s jurisdiction.
However, counsel to the Wike-aligned faction disagreed, saying there was no appellate order stopping proceedings.
Reacting to the suspension, the Wike faction accused the defendants of deliberately delaying the case.
Meanwhile, the court dismissed an application by the Turaki-led group seeking security access to the PDP national secretariat and also rejected calls for the judge to step aside over alleged bias.
The leadership crisis within the PDP therefore remains unresolved, pending further action by the Court of Appeal.
