Judge Upholds PDP Suit, Dismisses Wike Faction’s Jurisdiction Bid

By Angel Nwaozuzu

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has rejected arguments by the Wike-led PDP faction that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over a suit challenging their leadership, ruling the objections meritless and dismissing the application entirely.

The defendants had claimed the dispute was a purely internal party matter, an abuse of court process, and that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to file the suit.

In her ruling, the judge described jurisdiction as the lifewire and pillar upon which any matter can be determined, emphasising it must be determined from the originating processes.

She held that the claims centered on interpreting constitutional and statutory provisions, and enforcing prior court judgments placing the matter squarely within the court’s purview.

This comes after the Wike faction held its national convention on Sunday, where Abdulrahman emerged as substantive national chairman.

The decision aligns with 2025 rulings by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu of the Federal.High Court Abuja, who separately barred the rival PDP leadership under Turaki from convening a convention.

Counter-rulings had emerged from the Oyo State High Court.