Court reserves judgment as Wabara BoT pushes Turaki PDP recognition

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the Kabiru Turaki (SAN)-led interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, in the latest legal battle over the opposition party’s leadership crisis.

Justice Salim Ibrahim fixed no date for the judgment after the parties adopted their final written addresses in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026.

The judge said the date for the judgment would be communicated to counsel at least 24 hours before its delivery.

The suit was instituted by members of the PDP Board of Trustees led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, asking the court to order INEC to recognise the party’s INWC headed by Turaki.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order directing INEC to immediately update its records and publish on its official website the composition of the interim NWC as forwarded to the commission by the plaintiffs and the party’s National Executive Committee.

According to the plaintiffs, the names of members of the Turaki-led interim NWC were forwarded to INEC in letters dated May 4 but have yet to be reflected in the commission’s records.

INEC is the sole defendant in the suit.

The case is one of several suits arising from the prolonged leadership crisis in the main opposition party, with rival camps laying claim to the party’s national leadership.

The faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Ibrahim heard an application by members of the Wike-backed PDP executives led by Abdulrahman Mohammed seeking to be joined as parties in the case.

The applicants urged the court to allow them to participate in the proceedings, arguing that they have interests that would be affected by the outcome of the suit.

The court also entertained a separate joinder application filed by former Imo State PDP Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, alongside party chieftains Abraham Amah and George Turner.

They equally sought to be joined as parties and prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

Following the adoption of final processes by counsel and arguments on the pending applications, Justice Ibrahim reserved judgment.

The court did not indicate whether it would first determine the applications challenging its jurisdiction and the requests for joinder before deciding the substantive claims, but said all issues raised by the parties would be resolved in the judgment.

The decision is expected to determine whether INEC can be compelled to recognise the Turaki-led interim NWC and update its records accordingly, a development that could significantly influence the balance of power in the PDP’s protracted leadership dispute.

The suit is the latest in a series of court cases triggered by the internal crisis within the PDP as rival blocs continue to battle for control of the party’s leadership structure ahead of future political activities.

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Faction denies litigation claims

The Turaki (SAN)-led faction has dismissed reports that any of its 2027 election candidates is threatening legal action, insisting that no aspirant has issued such a threat.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Turaki-led faction, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the court heard the BoT suit seeking INEC’s recognition of its interim NWC.

It added that after all parties had adopted their processes, the court adjourned the case for judgment on a date to be communicated.

The statement described rumours that some candidates were threatening to institute legal action against the Turaki leadership as false.

“In a related development, we have become aware of rumours alleging that some candidates of our party are threatening to institute legal action against the leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

“These rumours are entirely false and are nothing more than the product of mischief.

“There has not been a single complaint, let alone any threat of legal action, from any of our candidates.

“On the contrary, all the party’s candidates have remained in constant communication with the leadership and are regularly briefed on ongoing developments,” it stated.

The party urged the public, especially media organisations and journalists, to ignore the misleading reports and rely solely on information released through the party’s official channels.

The Supreme Court, in a 3–2 judgment delivered on April 30, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which was backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and produced the Turaki-led leadership.

Following the ruling, the BoT, led by Wabara, reconstituted the Interim National Working Committee and retained Turaki and other members.

The group has since continued to operate alongside the PDP leadership recognised by INEC and supported by the Wike camp.

Meanwhile, the PDP faction led by Abdulrahman and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu proceeded with the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants seeking the party’s tickets for the 2027 elections.

The process was recognised and monitored by INEC, which granted the faction access codes to upload its candidates.

The Turaki-led faction maintained a parallel structure and issued nomination forms to prospective candidates, without INEC recognition, access codes, and official oversight of its primaries.