PDP legal dispute deepens as lawyers clash in court over representation in suit against INEC 

A fresh wave of legal confusion engulfed proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as two Senior Advocates of Nigeria simultaneously claimed representation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in an ongoing suit challenging the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission on the party’s leadership structure.

The dispute arose in a case filed by Adolphus Wabara,  Board of Trustees (BoT) led by former Senate President seeking judicial intervention compelling INEC to recognise and publish the interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the party allegedly forwarded to it by the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, is before Justice Salim Ibrahim and was instituted on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

The plaintiffs include Wabara; BoT Secretary and former Niger State governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu; former Minister of Information Jerry Gana; PDP chieftain Olabode George; former Minister of Women Affairs Maryam Ciroma; former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Zainab Maina; and BoT/NEC member Dame Esther Uduehi, with the PDP joined as the eighth plaintiff.

They are asking the court to compel INEC to update its official records and reflect the interim NWC allegedly communicated to the commission through letters dated May 4.

However, proceedings took a dramatic turn when Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) announced appearance for all the plaintiffs, including the PDP, while Sunday Ameh (SAN) also rose shortly after and announced appearance for the PDP as the eighth plaintiff.

The conflicting claims immediately created uncertainty in court, as both lawyers insisted on representing the same party in the politically sensitive matter.

The case further underscores the ongoing leadership tensions within the opposition party, with factional chairman Tanimu Turaki and other stakeholders, including
Jerry Gana, present during the proceedings as the court heard initial appearances in the suit.