Court bars Turaki-led faction from accessing PDP secretariat in Abuja

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki from gaining access to the party’s national secretariat.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the order while delivering judgement in a suit instituted by a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Justice Abdulmalik also ordered the security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), among others, to give adequate protection to Wike-led faction of the PDP while accessing the secretariat.

The judge held that the purported national convention held by the Turaki-led faction on November 15 and November 16, 2025, in Ibadan and the election of party’s officials, against the valid court orders, was a nullity.

She said the convention violated Section 287(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), as well as the PDP’s constitution.

Justice Abdulmalik described the expulsion of Wike and his allies from the party during the 2025 convention as an affront to the order of court.

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Justice Abdulmalik added that all proceedings, resolutions and decisions taken at the said convention, including the suspension of members of the first plaintiff, were unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void, and of no effect.

The Wike-backed faction, led by its acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, had filed the suit.

In the suit, the PDP, Abdulrahman, and Sameul Anyanwu, the factional National Secretary, had prayed the court to stop the police and DSS from allowing Turaki-led leadership access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadara Plaza in Abuja.

They also sought an order of injunction, restraining INEC from accepting any other office address or any other address from the Turaki-led leadership as the PDP’s office address other than as already contained in the commission’s records.

They sought an order of injunction, restraining the Turaki leadership from parading themselves as representatives of the PDP in any capacity whatsoever, among other reliefs.

The Star