PDP crisis: Court to rule on Wabara faction’s bid for INEC recognition ahead of 2027 polls

The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN), in the latest twist in the party’s prolonged leadership crisis.

Justice Salim Ibrahim reserved judgment after hearing arguments from counsel representing the various factions and interested parties, saying a date for the ruling would be communicated to all parties.

The suit was instituted by members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara. The plaintiffs are asking the court to direct INEC to update its records and publish the Turaki-led interim NWC on its official website, in line with resolutions they said were adopted by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

According to the plaintiffs, the names of members of the interim leadership were forwarded to INEC in letters dated May 4, but the electoral commission has yet to recognise the leadership.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chris Uche (SAN).

The plaintiffs are Wabara; former Niger State governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; former Information Minister Jerry Gana; PDP chieftain Olabode George; former ministers Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina; Dame Esther Uduehi; and the PDP.

The proceedings highlighted the deepening divisions within the opposition party after another senior lawyer, Sunday Ameh (SAN), appeared in court claiming to represent the PDP and challenged the party’s inclusion as a plaintiff. Ameh argued that the party did not authorise the suit and urged the court to strike out its name from the case.

Uche opposed the application, maintaining that the suit was properly instituted and urging the court to dismiss the objection.

The Wike-backed faction of the PDP also applied to be joined in the proceedings. The faction, led by acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade, argued that they are necessary parties to the suit.

Represented by Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), the applicants contended that they emerged from a caretaker arrangement following an earlier court judgment that nullified the party’s Ibadan convention.

The plaintiffs opposed the application, describing the applicants as “meddlesome interlopers” and insisting that the issues before the court relate solely to INEC’s recognition of the party’s leadership.

INEC also challenged the suit, urging the court to dismiss it for lack of jurisdiction. Counsel to the commission, Olusegun Adeyemi, argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

In response, Uche asked the court to dismiss INEC’s preliminary objection, insisting that the commission had no legal basis to oppose the suit.

The case is regarded as significant because it could determine which PDP leadership INEC recognises ahead of preparations for the 2027 general election. During an earlier hearing, the plaintiffs argued that the matter required an expedited hearing in view of INEC’s election timetable, which sets July 17 as the deadline for the submission of candidates’ details for the 2027 polls.

After hearing arguments on the preliminary objections, applications for joinder and the substantive suit, Justice Ibrahim reserved judgment until a date to be communicated to the parties.