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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 17, to deliver judgement in the suit seeking to determine the authentic leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and whether INEC should recognise the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee.
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The Adolphus Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees is asking the court to compel INEC to update its records and replace the leadership currently recognised by the electoral commission with the Turaki-led interim executive ahead of the 2027 general election.
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The Nyesom Wike-backed faction insists the suit is incompetent, arguing that the dispute is an internal affair of the PDP already settled by the Supreme Court and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
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The judgement is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s leadership structure and preparations for the 2027 general election, particularly as the party seeks clarity over its recognised national leadership.
July 16, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 17, to deliver judgement in the suit seeking to determine the authentic leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the party’s Interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Tanimu Turaki.
Justice Salim Ibrahim had, on July 7, reserved judgement after counsel to all parties adopted their final written addresses and argued the substantive suit filed by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, and eight others challenging INEC’s continued recognition of a rival leadership backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to direct INEC to update its records and publish the names of members of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, which they said was duly forwarded to the electoral commission through a letter dated May 4.
According to the plaintiffs, despite receiving the submission, INEC has failed to upload the names of the interim officers on its official records ahead of preparations for the 2027 general election.
The suit was instituted by Wabara alongside the BoT Secretary and former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu; former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana; PDP chieftain Chief Olabode George; former Ministers of Women Affairs, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma and Hajiya Zainab Maina; BoT and National Executive Committee member Dame Esther Uduehi; as well as the PDP.
The plaintiffs argued that the Board of Trustees constituted the Turaki-led interim leadership following the Supreme Court’s April judgment, which nullified the PDP’s November 15 and 16, 2025, national convention held in Ibadan that produced the party’s national executive.
Wike Camp Challenges Court’s Jurisdiction
However, the Wike-backed faction maintained that following the expiration of the tenure of the Ambassador Iliya Damagun-led National Working Committee in December 2025, it lawfully constituted an interim leadership, which subsequently produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led executive in March 2026.
The plaintiffs contended that INEC’s continued recognition of the rival leadership was unlawful and urged the court to compel the electoral commission to recognise the Turaki-led interim committee.
Counsel to the Wike faction raised preliminary objections, arguing that the Supreme Court had already settled issues relating to the party’s leadership and internal disputes. They further contended that the matter constituted the internal affairs of the PDP and was, therefore, outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Counsel to the plaintiffs disagreed, insisting that the dispute before the court centred on INEC’s statutory responsibility to maintain accurate records of political parties and their officials, making it a matter the court was competent to determine.
The plaintiffs also relied on an earlier judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which held that disputes involving INEC’s recognition of party officials were not merely internal party affairs and could therefore be adjudicated upon by the court.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Ibrahim reserved judgment and fixed Friday, July 17, for the delivery of the court’s decision.
The judgement is expected to determine which PDP leadership INEC will officially recognise, with the outcome likely to influence the party’s leadership structure, internal stability and preparations for the 2027 general election.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
