News
Ibadan FHC Judgment: No Recognition of Any Faction, No Cause for Alarm
By Umar Sani
The judgment delivered on Wednesday by the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has been widely misrepresented, prompting unnecessary anxiety and the circulation of misleading claims suggesting that the court recognised a rival faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
That narrative is false, mischievous, and deliberately crafted to confuse party members and the general public.
What the Ibadan court decided was narrow, procedural, and entirely predictable in law.
The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC), which emerged from the Ibadan Convention, approached the court by way of an application for an order of mandamus. The relief sought was simple and specific: to compel relevant authorities to recognise the NWC as the lawful leadership of the party.
In its ruling, the court declined to grant that order, not because it recognised any other faction, but because there are subsisting judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction touching on the same leadership dispute. The court held that granting the order as requested would amount to sitting on appeal over decisions of courts of equal standing an exercise it lacks jurisdiction to undertake.
In plain terms, the Federal High Court in Ibadan said: only the appellate courts can resolve the conflict arising from existing Federal High Court decisions. That is the full extent of the judgment.
At no point did the court recognise, endorse, validate, or confer legitimacy on the so-called Wike faction or any other group.
Crucially, the Ibadan court was not invited and did not attempt to determine which faction is authentic. Courts are not Father Christmas; they do not grant unsolicited relief. They either grant what is asked for or refuse it. Nothing more.
The suggestion circulating in some quarters that the Ibadan judgment “recognised the Wike faction” is therefore a deliberate falsehood. The Wike-aligned group did not file any process before the Ibadan court seeking recognition as the authentic PDP leadership. Their application seeking such relief is before a different court Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s court in Abuja and that matter has been adjourned to 20 February.
To conflate these distinct proceedings is either a gross misunderstanding of basic legal process or a calculated attempt at disinformation.
Following the Ibadan ruling, the Kabiru Turaki–led PDP has already briefed its legal team to file an appeal immediately and pursue all lawful steps necessary to protect its mandate and clarify the legal position at the appellate level.
Until the Court of Appeal makes a definitive pronouncement, the NWC that emerged from the Ibadan Convention remains legally intact and operational.
Members of the party are therefore urged to remain calm, resolute, and focused. There is no vacuum, no judicial endorsement of any rival faction, and no setback to the REBIRTH movement.
What occurred in Ibadan was a procedural pause not a substantive defeat.
Anything beyond that is fake news, pure and simple.
Umar Sani is the SA Media to the National Chairman of the PDP
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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