PDP Leadership Dispute deepens as Abuja court reserves judgment in a suit seeking INEC recognition of a rival National Working Committee faction
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the PDP Leadership Dispute involving rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the recognition of its National Working Committee (NWC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Justice Salim Ibrahim announced the decision on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, after lawyers representing the parties adopted their legal arguments and presented submissions for and against the suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara.
The Wabara-led BoT is seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the interim PDP NWC led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, and publish the names of its members on the commission’s official website.
The plaintiffs argued that the names of the interim NWC members were forwarded to INEC through letters dated 4 May 2026, following decisions taken by the party’s leadership structures.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on 4 June 2026 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN.
Other plaintiffs in the case include PDP BoT Secretary and former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Olabode George, former Women Affairs Ministers Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina, Dame Esther Uduehi and the PDP itself.
However, the PDP faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
The faction, led by National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade, sought to join the proceedings as defendants.
They argued that they were necessary parties whose interests would be affected by the outcome of the case.
Their legal representative, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, told the court that the faction was acting based on previous judicial developments concerning the party’s leadership structure.
Ukala referred to an earlier judgment delivered in Ibadan, Oyo State, which he said declared the PDP convention held between 15 and 16 November 2025 a nullity and supported the establishment of a caretaker arrangement for the party.
The Wabara-led group opposed the joinder applications, with Uche describing the applicants as “meddlesome interlopers and busy bodies”.
He argued that the dispute before the court was primarily between the plaintiffs and INEC.
INEC, through its counsel Olusegun Adeyemi, also filed a preliminary objection, asking the court to dismiss the case on grounds that it lacked jurisdiction.
Adeyemi argued that the commission’s objection was supported by an affidavit and written address, urging the court to strike out the suit.
Uche opposed INEC’s position, describing the commission’s objection as lacking merit and asking the court to dismiss it.
The legal battle comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties expected to resolve internal leadership issues ahead of key electoral deadlines.
The plaintiffs had earlier argued that the matter required urgent attention because of INEC’s revised timetable for the election process.
Justice Ibrahim said the date for delivering the ruling and judgment would be communicated to all parties.
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The outcome of the case is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s leadership structure and its preparations for the next general election.
