The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 for the hearing of a suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees seeking to compel INEC to recognise the party’s interim National Working Committee.
ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 for the definite hearing of a suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the recognition of the party’s interim National Working Committee (NWC).
Justice Salim Ibrahim fixed the date on Tuesday to allow all parties to file and exchange their court processes.
The judge ruled that all pending applications, including the substantive suit, would be heard together on the adjourned date and directed all parties to file and serve their processes by July 6.
Justice Ibrahim also warned that the court would not entertain any further delay when proceedings resume.
The matter had earlier been placed on an accelerated hearing on June 19 after counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), argued that the case was time-sensitive because of INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The Wabara-led BoT and the PDP are seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the Kabir Turaki-led interim National Working Committee and update the commission’s official records to reflect the leadership list submitted through letters dated May 4.
The plaintiffs also want the court to direct INEC to publish the interim NWC on its official website and recognise all official communications issued by the committee.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
Among the plaintiffs are former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Chief Olabode George, former Ministers Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina, Dame Esther Uduehi, and the PDP.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Kabir Turaki, listed as the PDP National Chairman, and Prof. Jerry Gana were present in court.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Gordy Uche, informed the court that he had responded to applications filed by parties seeking to be joined in the suit and requested that all pending applications and the substantive matter be heard together.
According to him, hearing all applications simultaneously would save judicial time and enable the PDP to meet INEC’s deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 elections.
He told the court that INEC had maintained that its July 11 deadline for candidate submissions remained sacrosanct.
“They said the submission started yesterday and parties have been given access code and we also need the access code too,” Uche said.
Counsel representing the PDP, INEC and parties seeking to join the suit did not oppose the application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the matter until July 7 for the hearing of all applications and the substantive suit.
The legal dispute follows a series of court judgments arising from the PDP’s prolonged leadership crisis.
On June 3, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja set aside key portions of a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Ibadan, which had recognised a factional caretaker committee of the PDP.
The appellate court held that the trial court granted reliefs that were never sought by any of the parties, faulting the lower court for exceeding the issues presented before it.
Meanwhile, in the fresh suit, the Wabara-led BoT is asking the Federal High Court to declare that INEC is constitutionally bound to comply with previous judgments of the FCT High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court concerning the PDP’s leadership.
The plaintiffs contend that the commission has refused to update its records despite being formally notified by the PDP’s BoT and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the constitution of the interim NWC.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu alleged that several former PDP national officers, including Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, were suspended for alleged gross misconduct, anti-party activities and insubordination.
He further argued that subsequent judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court affirmed decisions nullifying the party’s 2025 national convention and upheld actions taken against the affected officials.
Aliyu maintained that despite repeated correspondence from the PDP leadership and its legal representatives, INEC had failed to recognise the interim NWC or update its official records.
He described the commission’s refusal as a violation of the rule of law and urged the court to compel compliance with existing judicial decisions.
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