Court Strikes Out Wabara, Others’ Suit Seeking Recognition of Turaki-Led PDP Leadership

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Salim Ibrahim held that the plaintiffs, who are members of the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit. The court ruled that the absence of the requisite legal standing deprived it of the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Justice Ibrahim consequently upheld the preliminary objections raised by INEC and members of the PDP’s interim leadership aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, leading to the dismissal of the suit.

The court further held that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the purported interim National Working Committee or that they possessed the legal authority to institute the action on behalf of the PDP.

The judgment marks another twist in the leadership crisis rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party, as rival factions continue to battle for control of the PDP’s national structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Counsel to the Turaki-led faction indicated that the judgment would not end the legal battle, hinting that the decision would be challenged at the Court of Appeal. The development is expected to further shape the ongoing contest over the party’s leadership and its preparations for future elections.