The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 23, 2026, for the hearing of an application filed by the Kabiru Turaki‑led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking a stay of further proceedings in the party’s prolonged leadership dispute.
The motion relates to a suit instituted by the faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, intensifying the legal battle over control of Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The leadership crisis in the PDP erupted following a contested national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025, where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki was elected national chairman.
The outcome has been rejected by a rival faction aligned with Minister Nyesom Wike, prompting a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to restrain the Turaki camp from acting as the party’s legitimate leadership pending resolution of the substantive case.
The rival faction, led by Acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, asking the court to affirm earlier rulings and prevent the Turaki‑aligned group from accessing the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned proceedings on Wednesday to allow counsel for the Wike‑aligned plaintiffs to respond to the Turaki faction’s stay application. The Turaki camp, represented by Chief Chris Uche, has appealed an earlier ex‑parte order that froze activities in the dispute and filed a motion on notice seeking the judge’s recusal on grounds of alleged bias.
Ikpeazu, counsel for the plaintiffs, countered that an appeal does not automatically grant a stay of proceedings, arguing the matter should proceed in the trial court. Justice Abdulmalik directed a formal response to the stay motion and adjourned the matter for further hearing on January 23, 2026.
The Turaki faction also seeks the judge’s withdrawal from the case and reassignment due to concerns about partiality, citing procedural issues and earlier court orders.
The January 23 hearing is a pivotal milestone in the PDP’s internal power struggle as both factions vie for legal legitimacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A ruling on the stay application could determine whether the substantive case continues in the Federal High Court or shifts focus to appellate review, affecting the party’s governance and ability to present unified candidates.
The unresolved leadership dispute has impeded party operations and drawn attention from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has stressed the need for internal resolution before electoral preparations proceed.
The commission previously declined to recognise the Turaki‑led National Working Committee’s leadership pending court outcomes.
For urban political stakeholders, the outcome could recalibrate alliances within the PDP and influence its strategic positioning against the ruling party ahead of upcoming elections. A clear legal direction may stabilise the party’s organisational structures and bolster confidence among members and potential voters.
The setting of January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the Turaki faction’s motion marks a crucial juncture in the People’s Democratic Party’s leadership crisis. As legal arguments unfold, the party’s future direction will increasingly hinge on both judicial outcomes and internal reconciliation efforts.
Observers will be watching closely to see whether the court’s decisions facilitate broader resolution or deepen factional divides within one of Nigeria’s principal political parties.
