PDP Legal Clash Erupts in Court Over INEC Recognition Battle

There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as two lawyers appeared for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit filed by the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit, which is before Justice Salim Ibrahim, seeks an order of the court compelling INEC to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on its official website.

The BoT and the PDP filed the fresh suit.

The plaintiffs requested an order compelling the electoral umpire to immediately update its records and post the party’s interim NWC, which was sent to it by the plaintiffs and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, on its official website.

They claimed that in letters dated May 4, the electoral umpire received the names of members of the Kabiru Turaki-led NWC.

On June 4, a group of attorneys led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, filed the original summons, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026.

Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, BoT Secretary and former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, and PDP leader Olabode George are listed as the first through fourth claimants.

Other plaintiffs include Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, a former minister of women’s affairs; Hajiya Zainab Maina, a former minister of women’s affairs and social development; Dame Esther Uduehi, a member of the BoT and NEC; and the PDP, ranked fifth and eighth, respectively.

INEC was the only defendant sued by the plaintiffs.

Chief Gordy Uche, SAN, said that he will attend on behalf of all eight plaintiffs, including the PDP, the eighth plaintiff, when the matter was called on Friday.

Shortly after Uche announced his appearance, however, Mr. Sunday Ameh, SAN, also stepped up and declared his appearance on behalf of the eighth plaintiff (PDP).

However, the development caused some uncertainty in the courtroom.

Prof. Jerry Gana and Tanimu Turaki, the PDP’s factional national chairman, were among those present before the court on Friday.