The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, to stop assigning its cases to three specific judges. The party says members have grown uncomfortable with how often its matters end up in the courts of these judges.
In a letter dated November 19, 2025, and received by the court a day later, the PDP through its National Secretary, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja said it was acting on the directive of its National Chairman and top leadership.
According to the party, almost every major case involving it in recent years has been sent to the same three judges: Justice James Omotosho, Justice Peter Odo Lifu, and Justice Abduimalik. This, they say, is unusual because the Abuja Division has 12 judges who could hear such matters.
The letter noted:
“It is of great concern that all matters filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, for or against our Party, appear to have been consistently assigned to the following three judges…”
PDP officials said party members have repeatedly complained to the new leadership, insisting that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. They stressed that the issue isn’t about questioning the integrity of the judges or the court, but about how the pattern looks from the outside.
“We humbly plead that henceforth, no matters involving our Party be assigned to any of these three judges, as justice is rooted in trust and integrity,” the letter added.
The PDP emphasized that it still holds the judiciary in high regard and is simply asking for a more transparent distribution of its cases to avoid any appearance of bias.
