INEC Faces Turaki PDP in Court as Judgment Date is Fixed

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 17, to deliver judgment in the suit filed by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) aligned with former Minister of Special Duties, Kabir Turaki (SAN), against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Salim Ibrahim will deliver the judgment at 4 p.m., following the conclusion of arguments by all parties in the leadership dispute.

The suit was instituted by BoT members loyal to former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, who are asking the court to compel INEC to recognise the interim National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Turaki and publish its details on the commission’s official website.

The plaintiffs argued that the names of members of the Turaki-led interim NWC were submitted to INEC through letters dated May 4 and should be reflected in the commission’s records.

The originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

The plaintiffs include Wabara, former Niger State governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Olabode George, and other senior party members.

However, the faction of the PDP loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike challenged the jurisdiction of the court and sought to be joined in the suit.

The Wike-backed leadership, led by acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade, urged the court to dismiss the case.

During the proceedings, another senior lawyer, Sunday Ameh (SAN), appeared on behalf of the PDP and argued that the party did not authorise the filing of the suit. He filed applications seeking to remove the PDP’s name as a plaintiff and to effect a change of counsel.

Counsel to the original plaintiffs opposed the applications, describing them as frivolous and lacking merit.

Justice Ibrahim heard arguments on the applications for joinder, preliminary objections, and the substantive suit before reserving judgment. The court later communicated Friday as the date for delivery of the ruling.