The battle by the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to remove the hand of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, from the party’s leadership has suffered a setback.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on October 31, 2025, issued an injunction stopping the party from proceeding with its planned 2025 National Convention.
The party leadership scheduled the Convention to hold between November 15 and November 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Party leaders were at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the judgement, hoping for a favourable outcome.
Those present at the court included the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
Others were the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed.
The rest were Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
PDP leaders came for the final verdict on a matter brought by the Abia State Chairman, Abraham Nnanna Ammah.
Other parties to the suit are the Imo State PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu and South-South Zonal Secretary, Tuner George, from Bayelsa state.
The trio, allies of Wike, asked the court to stop the scheduled PDP National Convention holding in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Wike’s Faction wins
Ruling, the judge, James Omotosho, cited PDP’s failure to comply with its constitution, 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and Electoral Act.
Judge Omotosho cited the absence of valid state congresses in at least 14 states before advancing to the national level.
The court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any outcomes from the event without due process.
The process includes proper 21-day notices, as well as co-signatures on official documents.
Wike, a former Rivers State Governor, has been locking horns with the PDP hierarchy since 2022.
He had lost the party’s primary election to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He and a group of five governors, G5, demanded a southern presidential candidate but the party overruled them in favor of Abubakar, a northerner.
In its defence, PDP said the suit was an internal matter, arguing that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.
The defendants accused the plaintiffs of sabotage, trying to derail the transitions of the leadership.
However, the judge noted that the preparation for the convention is invalid.
The court also pointed out some negative issues such as the unsigned notice from National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum.
It also condemned an alleged forged signature of the National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, another Wike ally.
Wike celebrates and decries verdict
Following the court verdict, Wike addressed some PDP stakeholders at his residence in Abuja, including former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.
Expressing bittersweet emotions, he on one hand extolled the decision.
He described it is a victory against impunity, saying it is one of the happiest days of his life.
On the other hand, he described the judgement as saddest, noting that it may have sounded a death knell on the coffin of PDP.
“We are happy that we have fought impunity, while on the other hand, we are not happy with what is going on in the party,” Wike said.
“PDP leaders must talk to us… Nobody will be intimidated; we will do what is right,” he added.
As the 2027 general elections approaches, the party risks leadership paralysis as Damagum’s tenure winds down.
Failure to conduct a convention means no new executives, no candidate nominations, and a mass evacuation from the party.