The raging leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic legal turn as a Federal High Court in Abuja fixed January 23, 2026 to decide the next phase of the battle between the Kabiru Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) and the faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, is set to hear an application by the Turaki camp seeking to halt further proceedings in a case filed by the Wike-aligned PDP leadership. The judge adjourned the matter to give the plaintiffs time to respond to the request.
Why the PDP is in Court
The Wike-backed faction, led by acting PDP chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and factional secretary Samuel Anyanwu, had gone to court to stop the Turaki-led leadership from:
- Presenting itself as the authentic PDP leadership
- Entering the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza
- Submitting any official address to INEC other than the one already on record
They also asked the court to compel INEC, the Police, and DSS to enforce earlier court judgments that favour their faction.
Justice Abdulmalik had earlier issued a temporary order stopping both sides from taking any action until the case is fully heard.
Turaki Camp Fights Back
The Turaki-led group challenged that ruling at the Court of Appeal and also asked Justice Abdulmalik to step aside from the case, alleging bias and unfair treatment.
Their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), told the court that once an appeal has been formally entered, the trial court should no longer continue hearing the matter. He insisted that all proceedings should be suspended until the appeal is decided.
The Wike camp, however, disagreed. Their lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that filing an appeal does not automatically stop a case unless the appeal directly affects the substance of the matter. He said the appeal was only against an interim order, not the core dispute.
What the Court Decided
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that Ikpeazu must formally reply to the Turaki camp’s application for a stay of proceedings. As a result, she adjourned the case to January 23, when the court will decide whether the PDP leadership battle should be frozen or allowed to continue.
What This Means for PDP
With two rival leaderships claiming control of the party, the PDP remains deeply divided. The court’s ruling later this month could determine who truly runs Nigeria’s biggest opposition party—or whether the crisis drags on even longer.
For now, the PDP power struggle has moved fully into the courtroom, and all eyes are on January 23.