Court Orders Accelerated Hearing in PDP Leadership Suit Against INEC
By James Nwankwo
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an accelerated hearing in a suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Kabir Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the directive on Friday after counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), informed the court that the matter was time-sensitive in view of INEC's revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, which provides a July deadline for relevant submissions.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to direct INEC to update its official records and website to reflect the Kabir Turaki-led interim NWC, which they said was forwarded to the commission through letters dated May 4 following a decision of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC).
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
The plaintiffs include former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Olabode George, former Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Zainab Maina, Dame Esther Uduehi, and the PDP.
At the commencement of proceedings, Chief Gordy Uche announced his appearance for all the plaintiffs, including the PDP, and informed the court that Kabir Turaki (SAN), the faction's National Chairman, and Prof. Jerry Gana were present in court.
However, another senior advocate, Sunday Ameh (SAN), also announced his appearance for the PDP, stating that he had been instructed to represent the party and had filed a notice of change of counsel.
Ameh further informed the court that he had filed a motion seeking the removal of the PDP as the eighth plaintiff, arguing that the party did not authorise the institution of the suit.
The conflicting claims over representation of the PDP created some confusion during the proceedings.
Counsel for INEC, O.A. Adeyemi, confirmed that the commission was served with the originating summons on June 11 and had also received the various applications filed by the parties.
Meanwhile, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) and George Ibrahim (SAN) announced appearances for separate groups seeking to be joined as defendants in the matter.
Adedeji said he represented Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna and Mr. Turnah George, while Ibrahim appeared for Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Karmardeen Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), who are aligned with another PDP faction.
Both senior lawyers urged the court to determine their applications for joinder before proceeding with the substantive suit.
Chief Gordy Uche did not oppose the request and agreed that the applications for joinder, as well as Ameh's motion concerning the PDP's participation in the suit, should be heard before the substantive issues are considered.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter in view of its urgency and its implications for the electoral timetable.
