Court Hears PDP Leadership Suit July 7

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 for the hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit filed by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suit, filed by the BoT led by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, seeks to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Kabir Turaki-led interim National Working Committee of the party.

Justice Salim Ibrahim fixed the date on Tuesday after the parties agreed to file and exchange all outstanding processes before the next adjourned date.

The judge directed all parties to file and serve their processes on or before July 6, warning that no further delay would be entertained.

The plaintiffs, including Wabara, former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, Prof Jerry Gana, Olabode George and the PDP, are asking the court to direct INEC to recognise the Turaki-led interim NWC.

They also want INEC to update the party’s leadership records on its official website and accept communications from the interim leadership.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Gordy Uche (SAN), urged the court to hear all pending joinder applications alongside the substantive suit to save time.

“The commission has reiterated that its July 11 deadline for the submission of names of candidates is sacrosanct,” he said.

“They said the submission started yesterday, and parties have been given the access code, and we also need the access code,” he added.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN.

The plaintiffs alleged that INEC failed to recognise the Turaki-led interim NWC despite being notified through letters dated May 4 and May 15.

Aliyu, in an affidavit, described INEC’s alleged refusal as “a grave affront to the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.”

A faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by Mohammed Abdulrahman, has reportedly been recognised by INEC following a court judgment nullifying the PDP’s November 2025 national convention.