The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assumed a new dimension as the camp loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate and punish Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court for granting an ex parte motion for the party to hold its national convention in Ibadan on November 15.
Wike’s camp reported the judge to the NJC in a petition dated November 5, 2025, which was acknowledged by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025.
The document was submitted by loyalists of the Wike camp, namely Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George.
According to the petitioners, the decision by Justice Akintola to grant an ex parte order on November 4, allowing the PDP National Convention in Ibadan to go on as planned on November 15 and 16, 2025, directly contradicted a valid and subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on October 31, 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which had expressly restrained the PDP from holding its convention on the same dates.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday on the petition, they accused the judge of engaging in acts of judicial recklessness, impunity, and flagrant violation of established legal principles.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Nwachukwu, the PDP chairman in Imo State, flanked by Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, his counterpart from Abia State, said Justice Akintola issued an ex parte order on November 4, 2025, authorising the conduct of the PDP National Convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
He said the order directly contradicted a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on October 31, 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which had expressly restrained the PDP from holding the convention on those dates.
Nwachukwu claimed that the judge’s action smacked of sitting on appeal over a judgement of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
“This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system,” he said.
The PDP chieftains urged the NJC to act swiftly and decisively, warning that failure to address the matter could embolden judicial officers who disregard due process.
“The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay,” they said.
They also reminded the NJC of how it had acted promptly in similar cases of judicial misconduct in Rivers, Imo, and other states, urging it to maintain the same standard.
“The Nigerian judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man and not a tool in the hands of those seeking to subvert justice for political expediency. The NJC’s prompt and transparent action on this petition will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary and reinforcing the principle that no one, no matter how highly placed, is above the law,” Nwachukwu added.
Meanwhile, journalists were on Monday barred from entering the courtroom to cover proceedings in the suit involving the PDP and others over the proposed national convention of the party slated for Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.
This was as security operatives mounted a heavy presence at the court premises and restricted access to accredited personnel only.
Justice Ladiran Akintola, presiding over the matter, adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its acting national chairman, and others till Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The court had earlier, in its ruling on an ex parte motion last week, ordered the PDP to proceed with its scheduled national convention, while adjourning the hearing on the motion on notice to Monday, November 10, 2025.
At Monday’s sitting, Justice Akintola, after listening to submissions from counsel representing both parties, directed them to file all necessary processes to ensure smooth commencement of the substantive hearing.
He subsequently adjourned the case till Wednesday to enable the court to take all pending applications together.
The claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, had sought a court order restraining the defendants—acting national chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, Governor of Adamawa State Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (for himself and members of the National Convention Organising Committee), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—from taking any action that could truncate or frustrate the conduct of the party’s scheduled national convention.
The court had also directed the PDP leadership to adhere strictly to the guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities earlier released for the convention.
