PDP Crisis Worsens As Wike’s Camp Moves To Nullify Ibadan Convention

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party has escalated as the faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16.

In a suit filed by Acting National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, the group wants the court to declare the convention and all its outcomes “null and void.” The Ibadan gathering had expelled Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose, and several others.

The faction argues that the convention violated multiple existing court orders, including judgments delivered on October 31, November 11, November 14, and a May 2023 ruling in a case involving Wike and the PDP. They say those rulings cancelled the 21-day notice for the convention and barred the party from holding it.

Despite this, the plaintiffs said the defendants “organised themselves” and proceeded with the Ibadan event, where new officers were elected and key members suspended.

In an affidavit, Anyanwu also claimed the Ibadan group tried to seize the PDP national secretariat and Legacy House in Abuja on November 18. According to him, security agencies later sealed both buildings, blocking the recognised officers from entering.

The Wike faction is asking the court to compel INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Police Commissioner, and the DSS to enforce the earlier judgments. They also want the court to stop the Ibadan leaders from parading themselves as PDP executives.

Additionally, they are seeking an order directing security agencies to grant them access to Wadata Plaza and Legacy House, and to prevent INEC from accepting any new party address apart from the two official Abuja locations.

The case has not been assigned to a judge, and no hearing date has been set.