Abuja – Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court on Thursday adjourned till Friday, July 10, to deliver judgement in the suit seeking recognition of the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) as the authentic leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The case pits the Board of Trustees (BoT)-backed faction, led by PDP BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, against the group loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wabara and eight other plaintiffs, including former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, ex-Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, and PDP chieftain Chief Olabode George, are asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload and recognise the names of the Turaki-led interim NWC on its website ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The plaintiffs argued that INEC has failed to publish the list forwarded to it on May 4, despite the Supreme Court’s April ruling that nullified the Ibadan national convention which produced the Turaki executive. Following the apex court decision and the expiration of the Ambassador Iliya Damagun-led NWC in December, the Wabara-led BoT constituted the interim leadership.
Counsel for the plaintiffs maintained that the matter is not an internal affair of the PDP but concerns INEC’s statutory duty. They cited a previous Federal High Court ruling by Justice James Omotosho to support their position.
The Wike faction, which was joined in the suit, filed preliminary objections, arguing that the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership question and that the suit bordered on the party’s internal affairs, which courts should not entertain. As of now, INEC’s website still recognises the Wike-backed leadership.
In a related development, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday shifted hearing in the appeals filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties challenging their deregistration by INEC to July 14.
A three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed adjourned the matter because some parties were served with reply briefs in court on Tuesday, giving them insufficient time to respond. The appeals are against a Federal High Court judgement that ordered INEC to delist the parties and bar them from the 2027 election.
Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP has dismissed as false and mischievous reports claiming that some of its candidates for the 2027 elections are planning to sue the interim leadership.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party described the claims as “the product of mischief” propagated by “ill-wishers and PDP pretenders” allegedly sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There has not been a single complaint from any of our candidates,” the statement said. “On the contrary, all the party’s candidates have remained in constant communication with the leadership and are regularly briefed on ongoing developments.”
The interim NWC urged the public and media organisations to rely solely on official party channels for information.
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
