UPDATED: Gericht lehnt Anerkennung der von Turaki geführten PDP ab

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking an order for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabir Turaki. Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled the suit an abuse of court process, noting that the plaintiffs failed to prove any entitlement to the relief sought. The judge also agreed with preliminary objections raised by INEC and the Wike-backed PDP faction, asserting that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN. It was initiated by Wabara, along with other BoT members, including former Senate President Wabara, former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, ex-Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, and several other officials. They sought to compel INEC to recognize the Turaki-led NWC, update its database with the names of the committee members, and publish the information on INEC's website. The plaintiffs argued that the names of the NWC members had been submitted to INEC via letters dated May 4. The court rejected these arguments, stating that the plaintiffs had not established a legal obligation on INEC to recognize the NWC. Justice Ibrahim emphasized that the plaintiffs' case hinged on the assumption that INEC was already bound by prior judicial decisions, an assumption they failed to substantiate. The judge noted that the Supreme Court rulings cited by the plaintiffs did not constitute orders compelling INEC to act. Furthermore, the court found that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that the Turaki-led NWC represented the lawful leadership of the PDP capable of engaging with INEC. In addition to dismissing the main claim, the court upheld preliminary objections raised by INEC and the Wike-backed PDP faction. These objections challenged the legal standing of the plaintiffs, arguing that the 1st to 7th plaintiffs lacked the authority to file the suit on behalf of the party. The court also granted applications by the Wike-backed faction to be joined as defendants, including Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, the National Chairman of the faction, and other key figures such as Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kamaldeen Ajibade. Additional applicants, including Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, and George Turnah, were also included as necessary parties due to their potential interest in the outcome. The Wike-backed faction asserted that it is the authentic leadership of the PDP and that the court lacked jurisdiction to consider the claims of the Wabara-led faction. They contended that the plaintiffs, who had previously been expelled from the party by court judgments, lacked the legal right to initiate the action. The court accepted this argument and ruled that the plaintiffs could not proceed with their case. The dismissal of the suit marks another setback for the Wabara-led faction in its ongoing struggle over PDP leadership. The dispute has deepened divisions within the party, with two competing factions vying for control. While the Wabara faction argues that it represents the majority of the party's membership, the Wike-backed faction maintains that it holds the legitimate authority based on recent conventions and court rulings. The outcome of this legal battle will likely have significant implications for the party's internal cohesion and its ability to function effectively ahead of upcoming elections.