A legal battle is now at the heart of the Peoples Democratic Party’s deepening leadership crisis after the party’s newly elected national executive, led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, formally accused a judge of bias and demanded her immediate withdrawal from a suit challenging its authority.
In a dramatic move that underscores the escalating internal strife, the Turaki-led executive has filed a motion before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, urging her to recuse herself from presiding over the case.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, was filed by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by acting National Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. It seeks to prevent the Turaki-led leadership from accessing the PDP’s national secretariat and to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing them.
However, the Turaki faction, represented by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, argued in its motion that the handling of the case had created a “reasonable and well-founded apprehension” of bias. The motion stated that Justice Abdulmalik’s continued involvement in the matter, despite prior written objections from the party, endangered the constitutional right to a fair and impartial hearing.
Central to their argument is a letter dated November 19, 2025, written by the party’s National Secretary, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho. The letter formally requested that no PDP internal dispute cases be assigned to Justice Abdulmalik and two other judges—Justices James Omotosho and Peter Odo Lifu—citing perceived partisanship in past matters.
Uche contended that despite this protest, the case was assigned to Justice Abdulmalik, who proceeded to issue ex-parte orders that mirrored the pattern and substance of earlier rulings by Justice Omotosho. This, he said, exceeded coincidence and confirmed a legitimate fear of partiality.
“The judicial proceedings must not only be fair but must manifestly appear to be fair,” Uche submitted, asking the court to remit the suit to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
When the matter was called, parties informed the court that they were yet to fully exchange processes. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the suit to January 14, 2026, for hearing. A related matter was adjourned to January 16, 2026.
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