PDP Convention: Abuja High Court Plaintiffs File Petition Against NJC
The plaintiffs in the recent Abuja Federal High Court suit, which halted the planned November 15 National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for an investigation of Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court for alleged abuse of judicial process.
The plaintiffs -Honourable Austin Nwachukwu; Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna; Mr Turnah Alabh George -spoke in Abuja just hours after Justice Akintola, again on Monday, affirmed his earlier ruling, which countered that of the Abuja federal high court by granting the PDP full permission to proceed with its convention as already scheduled.
Addressing reporters in Abuja, Nwachukwu, who spoke on behalf of the plaintiffs, said the parties submitted a petition to the NJC on November 5, 2025, explaining that the petition was also stamped “received” on November 6.
Nwachukwu, a former member of the House of Representatives and now the Imo State Chairman of the PDP, expressed surprise that the NJC had not acted on the petition, but rather allowed Justice Akintola to continue to issue counter orders against the Abuja federal high court judgment.
He stated, “We want to draw the attention of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigerian public to a petition before the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Honourable Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.
“The petition, dated November 5, 2025, and duly received by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025, was submitted by Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George on behalf of themselves as critical stakeholders of PDP.
“The petition raises serious concerns over what is described as acts of judicial recklessness, impunity, and flagrant violation of established legal processes by Justice Akintola, particularly in his decision to issue an ex parte order on November 4th, permitting the conduct of the PDP National Convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
“This order, according to the petitioners, directly contradicts a valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on 31st of October 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which had expressly restrained the PDP from holding its convention on the same dates.”
The petitioners claimed that Akintola’s action was akin to sitting on appeal over the subsisting judgment delivered by a court of equal jurisdiction, which he said breached the judicial process
They noted further, “The petitioners rightly contend that Justice Akintola’s action amounts to sitting on appeal over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction-an act that undermines judicial hierarchy and the sanctity of the rule of law.
“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.
“We therefore call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently investigate this matter and take decisive action, just as it had done in similar cases involving judicial misconduct in Rivers State, Imo State, and other jurisdictions, where they were seen to have acted promptly as soon as the petitions were received by them.
“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.
“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.”
The plaintiffs belong to the camp of the PDP under the control of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike.
The Wike camp had at the weekend dissolved the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP set up by the camp of the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
The BoT, which was chaired by former President of the Senate, Senator Adulphus Wabara, was dissolved just days after the body declared backing for the Ibadan convention and commended Justice Akintola for his “courageous” decision of giving the party the leave to hold the convention.
Both the Damagum camp and Wike camp had, in the last couple of weeks, taken punitive actions against each other.
While the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and three other national officers for alleged “anti-party activities”, the Wike camp, which now has Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as the acting national chairman, also hit back by suspending Damagum and four other national officers of the PDP.
The Wadada Plaza National Secretariat of the party, which had earlier been taken over by the Wike camp, is currently sealed by the police.