A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the Board of Trustees faction led by Senator Adolphus Wabara within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the lawsuit, which aimed to validate decisions made by the Tanimu Turaki-led leadership.
The plaintiffs, including prominent figures like Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Jerry Gana, had requested that INEC update its records to reflect the interim National Working Committee headed by Turaki. They argued that the commission was legally obligated to acknowledge this faction based on correspondence submitted in May.
However, the court faced competing claims as a rival faction backed by Nyesom Wike, led by Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, challenged the suit’s validity. This group contended that they were the legitimate party leadership, having been elected during a convention held in late March. Justice Ibrahim ultimately granted joinder applications from this faction, ruling that their interests were directly tied to the litigation.
In his final judgment, Justice Ibrahim struck out the case, citing a lack of jurisdiction. He characterized the lawsuit as an abuse of the court’s process, noting that the plaintiffs were attempting to revive issues already settled by previous legal rulings. The judge further removed the PDP as a plaintiff, concluding that the party had not authorized the filing. He labeled the suit an academic exercise, particularly given that INEC had already monitored the convention that produced the rival Mohammed-led executive team.
