The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn its suit against the Nigeria Police following a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, saying it no longer has confidence in the presiding judge.
The Federal High Court, on Friday, suspended further proceedings in the leadership crisis rocking the PDP, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal. The ruling was delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after a notice of appeal filed by a faction of the party led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kabiru Turaki, was brought to the court’s attention.
Justice Abdulmalik held that once a notice of appeal has been duly filed and the record of appeal transmitted, the trial court must exercise restraint. She therefore adjourned the substantive matter till February 20 for mention.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, seeks to nullify the outcome of the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16. It was filed by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, acting national chairman and national secretary respectively, of the bloc loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Following this ruling, the PDP issued a press statement announcing its withdrawal of a related suit against the Nigeria Police and openly declared its lack of trust in Justice Abdulmalik.
In the statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said it had filed a notice of discontinuance in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2520/2025, which sought an order directing the police to remove blockades, vacate the party secretariat, and hand it over to what it described as the legitimately elected leadership.
The party explained that it had earlier written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, expressing “complete lack of faith” in the ability of some judges to fairly handle matters involving the PDP.
Despite filing a motion asking Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself, the PDP said the judge chose to hear all motions, including the recusal request, alongside the substantive case, a move the party described as a denial of fair hearing.
The PDP added that even after lawfully withdrawing the suit within the time allowed by court rules, the judge dismissed the case instead of striking it out, further deepening its fears of bias.
“We have indicated our complete loss of trust in her ability to be fair in the matter, or any other matter concerning the PDP,” the party said.
Meanwhile, reacting to the suspension of proceedings, the National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-aligned faction, Hon. Haruna Jangudu, accused the opposing bloc of deliberately stalling the case.
“How can you wake up and say you do not have confidence in the presiding judge anymore? This is about the third judge they have accused of bias,” Jangudu said.
The court also dismissed a motion filed by the Turaki-led faction seeking to compel security agencies to grant them access to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that dismissal, rather than striking out, was appropriate since parties had joined issues.
The PDP, in its statement, urged the judiciary to remain distant from politics, quoting late Justice Niki Tobi, and prayed that “politics and justice do not meet.”
