PDP Crisis: Wabara, Aliyu, Gana, others sue INEC

The Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which included former Governor Babangida Aliyu and former Minister Jerry Gana, has instituted a suit against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding recognition of its interim National Working Committee (NWC).

The BoT and the PDP in a fresh suit sought an order compelling INEC to forthwith update its records and publish on its official website the NWC of the party as forwarded to it by the plaintiffs and its National Executive Committee (NEC).

They said the names of members of the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC were sent to the electoral umpire via letters dated May 4, 2026.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4, 2026 by a team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

Listed as plaintiffs are former Senate President Wabara; Aliyu, the BoT Secretary; Professor Gana, former Minister of Information; and PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George, as 1st to 4th plaintiffs.

Others include former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma; also a former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina; member of BoT and NEC, Dame Esther Uduehi; and PDP as 5th to 8th plaintiffs respectively.

The plaintiffs sued INEC as sole defendant in the suit.

NAN reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on June 3, 2026 set aside key aspects of a Federal High Court judgment that recognised a factional caretaker committee in the PDP.

The appellate court held that the trial court granted reliefs that were never sought by any of the parties to the suit.

Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, in a unanimous judgment, faulted Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for going beyond the issues placed before the court in a dispute arising from the PDP leadership crisis.

Justice Agomoh had in a judgment delivered on January 30, 2026 recognised the caretaker committee led by Abdurahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu of the Nyesom Wike camp as the legitimate leadership faction of the party.

However, the Court of Appeal held that none of the parties before the lower court had sought such a declaration.

Meanwhile, the Wabara-led BoT of the PDP in the suit filed on June 4 sought a declaration that INEC is constitutionally bound to enforce and give full effect to the decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in a suit number: CV/1050/2025, between Senator Sameul Anyanwu and Ambassador Umar Damagun and eight others delivered on January 12.

They sought a declaration that the commission is also bound by decisions in appeal number: CA/ABI/1613/2025, between PDP and two others Vs. Hon. Austine Nwachukwu and eight others delivered on March 9 and appeal numbers: SC/CV/164/2026 between PDP and Alhaji Sule Lamido and four others and SC/CV/166/2026 between PDP and two others vs. Hon. Austine Nwachukwu and eight others, both delivered on April 30.

They, therefore, prayed the court for an order directing INEC to accept and give effect to all official correspondences, communications, notices and engagements concerning the party from the interim NWC and for the commission to direct the same emanating from it to the NWC as forwarded to it by the plaintiffs and the NEC via their letters dated May 4.

In the affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed by Aliyu, he said on November 1, 2025, “key officers of PDP (8th plaintiff) like Sen. Anyanwu, Hon Umar M. Bature, Adeyemi Kamaldeen Ajibade and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha were suspended by a resolution of the NWC for gross misconduct, anti-party activities and insubordination against the 8th plaintiff”.

Aliyu said that at the 608th meeting of the NWC held on November 1, 2025, their suspension was approved and they were referred to the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) for further action.

He said the affected four members deliberately refused, failed, and neglected to submit themselves to the party’s NDC and continued to act as officers of the party even when there was no resolution lifting their suspension.

He said that Anyanwu was earlier recommended for expulsion as a member of the PDP by a report dated March 10, 2025 submitted by the NDC.

Aliyu said subsequently the NDC’s recommendation for the expulsion of Anyanwu was upheld at the 608th meeting of the NWC held on November 1, 2025.

He said upon his expulsion, Anyanwu filed suit number: CV/1050/2025 against Damagun and others at the FCT High Court, challenging his expulsion as a member of the party.

He averred that on January 12, the FCT High Court delivered its judgment, dismissing Anyanwu’s claim in the said suit on the merit.

The ex-governor said the BoT, at its emergency meeting held on November 5, 2025 constituted the board reconciliation committee, preparatory to its national elective convention.

He said the party held its elective national convention on November 15 and 16, 2025 and elected its national officers.

According to him, the convention was subject of several litigations that went through the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court.