 have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), seeking disciplinary action){kind=link}
Three senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), seeking disciplinary action against Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court over alleged judicial recklessness and abuse of process.
The petitioners, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Mr. Turnah Alabh George, accused the judge of issuing an ex parte injunction that allegedly contradicted a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had restrained the PDP from holding its planned National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025.
They are the plaintiffs in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, in which Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, reportedly delivered a judgment stopping the convention.
In their petition titled “Petition against Honourable Justice A. L. Akintola of the High Court of Oyo State for His Lordship’s Judicial Act of Recklessness, Impunity and Flagrant Violation of Due Process of Law,” the PDP chieftains alleged that the judge acted beyond his powers.
“This Petition is against Justice A.L. Akintola of the High Court of Oyo State which in our opinion amounts to an act of judicial indiscretion and abuse of Office.
“The said Judge had gone ahead to issue an Ex-Parte Injunction mandating the Peoples Democratic Party to go ahead with its Convention earlier slated for 15th and 16th November 2025 despite the fact that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had delivered a Judgment forbidding the holding of the said Convention in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 Between Hon Austine Nwachukwu & 2 Others and INEC & 8 Others.
“The Injunction issued by Justice Akintola amounts to sitting on appeal against the Judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in the above mentioned Suit…”
The petitioners argued that Justice Akintola’s order amounted to usurping the powers of the appellate court, insisting that the Oyo State High Court had no jurisdiction to overrule a decision of the Federal High Court.
They said the judge’s action raised serious ethical concerns and brought the judiciary into disrepute.
They further questioned the choice of filing the suit in Ibadan and the selection of Justice Akintola to handle it, describing the circumstances as suspicious.
They also alleged that the judge’s previous role as head of the Oyo State Local Government Election Tribunal under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration called for scrutiny.
“In the light of the foregoing, we hereby appeal to your Lordship to cause a probe of the circumstances leading to the unwarranted grant of an Ex-Parte Order by Justice A.L. Akintola of the High Court of Oyo State and to ensure that the learned Judge faces punishment if found wanting…”
In a supporting affidavit, one of the petitioners, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, reaffirmed that the Abuja Federal High Court judgment was still valid and unchallenged.
“I know that from the CTC of the judgment that INEC and PDP were clearly directed not to proceed with the National Convention of the PDP slated for 15th and 16th of November, 2025 until certain conditions are met.
“I know as a fact that none of the Defendants have appealed against the said judgment delivered on the 31st day of October, 2025.
“To our dismay, as Plaintiffs in the said judgment, Hon. A.L. Akintola of the High Court of Justice of Oyo State constituted himself into the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and set aside the said judgment of the Court on the 3rd of November, 2025.”
The petitioners urged the NJC to investigate the conduct of Justice Akintola, saying sanctioning such actions was necessary to preserve the integrity of the judiciary.