Court to hear case on convention tomorrow
Members of the Wike/Anyanwu faction of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Ibadan High Court for issuing an exparte order that gave the Umar Damagum-led faction the nod to proceed with the proposed National Convention.
The convention is slated for Saturday and Sunday in Ibadan.
Justice Akintola yesterday asked the parties in the case at the Ibadan High Court to return to court tomorrow for hearing.
The Chairman of Imo State chapter, Austine Nwachukwu, who along with two others, secured the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court stopping the convention, said Justice Akintola’s action was a violation of established judicial processes.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the Abuja court, had ruled that the convention should not hold, and if the exercise is organise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not recognise the outcome.
But the Ibadan court granted the exparte order in the case filed by a party chieftain, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, restraining the National Chairman, Damagun, from suspending the convention.
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When the motion on notice came up for hearing at the Ibadan court yesterday, Justice Akintola adjourned till today to enable the parties file all the processses for effective takeoff.
He explained that the adjournment would also enable the court take the pending applications.
Why we petitioned CJN, by party chieftains
Accompanied by his two colleagues – Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah Alabh George, the Imo PDP Chairman said they have submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who is the NJC Chairman.
He said: “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 the 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 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”.
Source: The Nation
