In a petition dated November 19, Taofeek Arapaja, national
secretary of the PDP, wrote to John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high
court, expressing unease over the repeated allocation of the party’s matters to
James Omotosho, Peter Lifu and Mohammed Abdulmalik.

The faction of the party led by Kabiru Turaki, said its
observation covers cases it filed as well as suits initiated against it.

The complaint comes amid increasing legal battles over the
PDP’s recent national convention, which has deepened internal divisions.

Recently, Omotosho issued an order stopping its convention
in response to a suit filed by Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Nnanah and Turnah George,
who challenged the party’s compliance with its constitution.

Lifu also halted preparations for the convention after
agreeing with Sule Lamido, former Jigawa governor, that he was unfairly
prevented from obtaining the nomination form for the national chairmanship
race.

Despite these order, the PDP proceeded with the convention
based on a counter-ruling issued by Ladiran Akintola, a judge at the Oyo high
court.

The contradictory orders have resulted in further
fragmentation within the opposition party, with blocs aligned to the PDP
governors’ forum and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory
(FCT), insisting on controlling the party structure.

In the petition, Arapaja wrote that he was acting “with the
instruction and authority of the PDP national chairman of , the  and the entire members of the newly-elected
national working committee (NWC) and the national executive committee (NEC)”.

‘COURTS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’

He added that the three courts had become, in the eyes of
party members, “courts of particular concern” regarding disputes involving the
PDP.

“Even though there are other Judges numbering up to nine in
the Abuja Judicial Division, who could have taken up any of these matters, as
the Abuja Division has 12 Judges,” the petition reads.

“Several of our party members have recently complained
bitterly to the newly elected members of the national working committee and the
national executive committee of the above-mentioned scenario.

“Indeed, all these three courts are viewed by party members
and indeed the public as ‘courts of particular concern with regard to matters
pertaining to or affecting the interest of the PDP.

“My lord, it is trite that justice must not only be done in
all cases and circumstances with regard to matters pending and matters filed in
the court of law, but justice must be seen to be done indeed by reasonable
members of the society including the members of our Party.

“Given the current challenges facing the Party, there is
high likelihood of cases being filed for or against the party.

“It is in this respect that we humbly plead and beg that in
no other matters or circumstances with regard to cases that may be filed by or
against our party henceforth should be assigned to any of these three Judges,
since justice is rooted in trust and integrity.”

Arapaja added that the PDP maintains its confidence in the
judiciary but felt compelled to outline the “fears and apprehension” of its
members over the matter.