According to Nivo News, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed January 23, 2026, for the hearing of an application seeking to halt further proceedings in the leadership tussle rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to allow counsel to the plaintiffs, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, formally respond to the motion for stay of proceedings filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee against a suit instituted by a rival faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The suit was filed by the Wike-backed faction of the PDP, led by its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, alongside Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who claims the position of National Secretary. In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, the plaintiffs are asking the court to restrain the Turaki-led leadership from presenting itself as the authentic leadership of the party in any capacity.

They are also seeking orders preventing the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services from granting the Turaki-led group access to the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja. In addition, the plaintiffs want the Independent National Electoral Commission barred from recognising any office address submitted by the Turaki faction other than what is already on record with the commission.

The plaintiffs further urged the court to declare that INEC, the police and the DSS are constitutionally obligated to enforce and give effect to earlier judgments and rulings delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu on related matters.

Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit. That decision was subsequently challenged at the Court of Appeal by the Turaki-led faction, which also filed an application requesting a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.

At Wednesday’s sitting, counsel to the Turaki-led leadership, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal and that records had been transmitted. He argued that once an appeal is properly entered, the trial court lacks the jurisdiction to continue with proceedings, urging the court to stay the matter indefinitely.

In response, Ikpeazu contended that the filing of an appeal does not automatically translate into a stay of proceedings, especially where the appeal does not affect the substantive issues before the court. He maintained that the court retained the inherent power to continue with the matter and urged Justice Abdulmalik to proceed with hearing all pending applications as earlier directed.

However, after confirming that the plaintiffs were only served with the application for stay late the previous day, the judge ruled that they should be given time to file a formal response. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to January 23 for hearing of the application seeking to halt further proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction has also filed a motion asking Justice Abdulmalik to withdraw from the case, citing alleged bias and requesting that the file be reassigned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. The applicants argue that their right to fair hearing, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, may be compromised if the judge continues to preside over the matter.