• Party faction dismisses claims of candidates’ planned suit against its leadership
Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Salim Ibrahim has adjourned till July 10, to decide the authentic leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The case is between the faction led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the mainstream Interim National Working Committee of the PDP, led by Tanimu Turaki.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, shifted hearing in the appeals filed by African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, and three other political parties against their deregistration to July 14.
Ibrahim fixed the date for judgement shortly after taking arguments for and against the suit filed by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
Wabara and eight others in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, were seeking among others, an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Interim National Working Committee of PDP, led by Turaki.
They predicated their legal action on the alleged failure of the electoral umpire to upload the names of the Turaki-led interim NWC members on its website for the 2027 general election.
Following the Supreme Court judgement, which in April nullified the Ibadan November 15 and 16, 2025 national convention that produced the Turaki-led national executive, the Wabara-led BOT had put in place the interim leadership to run the affairs of the PDP, pending the election of new leaders.
But at the expiration of the tenure of the Ambassador Iliya Damagun-led NWC of PDP last December, the Wike faction had put in place an interim national executive, which in March this year produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed leadership.
As of today, the recognised leadership of PDP on the website of INEC is the Wike faction, which the plaintiffs are now challenging in court.
The plaintiffs include the BoT Secretary, former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu; ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, and PDP chieftain, Olabode George, as first to fourth plaintiffs.
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma; another ex-Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina; member of BoT and NEC, Dame Esther Uduehi, and PDP, asked the court for an order directing INEC to forthwith, update its records and publish on its official website the interim NWC of the party as forwarded to it by the plaintiffs and its National Executive Committee (NEC).
According to them, the names of members of the Turaki-led NWC, which was forwarded to the electoral umpire via their letters dated May 4, has not been uploaded by INEC.
Ibrahim, in a ruling, granted the joinder applications by the Wike faction, which was opposed to the suit by Wabara.
The Wike faction filed and argued their preliminary objections against the suit, pointing out that the apex court has resolved the issues concerning the leadership of the party as well as the issue of suspension.
Besides, they submitted that the case before the court fell within the category of internal affairs of the PDP, which the court could not entertain.
However, the plaintiffs stated that the case before the court was between PDP and INEC, which the court could look into and take decision.
They added that the case which went up to the Supreme Court started at the Federal High Court, wherein Justice James Omotosho had held that the matter brought against INEC by some parties, which had been joined in the instant case, was not an internal affair of the PDP.
Ibrahim after listening to all arguments announced that judgement had been fixed for Friday, July 10.
Appeal Court Shifts ADC, Accord, Three Others’ Appeal Against Deregistration to July 14
The Court of Appeal, Abuja, shifted hearing in the appeals filed by African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, and three other political parties against their deregistration till July 14.
The three-member panel of the appellate court adjourned to a new date to enable parties regularise and serve all processes in the various appeals against the judgement of a Federal High Court, which had ordered INEC to remove their names from the list of political parties in the country and also bar them from participating in the 2027 general election.
The panel, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, had last week fixed July 7 for hearing in all the appeals, shortly after it ordered parties in the various suits to file and exchange their processes in the appeals.
However, when the matter came up yesterday, it was discovered that some of the parties were served with their reply briefs in court, and as such would be needing time to respond.
Mohammed said since service was done today (Tuesday), the appeals are not ripe for hearing.
He accordingly adjourned till July 14, for hearing, warning all parties to ensure they file and exchange processes before the next adjourned date.
PDP Dismisses Claims of Candidates’ Planned Suit Against Its Leadership
The Tanimu Turaki-led PDP has dismissed as false reports that some of its candidates for the 2027 general election were planning to institute legal action against the interim leadership.
The party described the reports as “the product of mischief”, insisting that none of its candidates has lodged any complaint or threatened legal action against its interim leadership.
It urged the public, particularly media organisations and journalists, to disregard the rumours and rely only on information communicated through the official channels.
The clarification was contained in a statement by the interim National Working Committee (NWC) and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
According to the statement, there has not been a single complaint from any of the faction’s candidates, contrary to the reports making the rounds.
“On the contrary, all the party’s candidates have remained in constant communication with the leadership and are regularly briefed on ongoing developments,” the statement read.
The party alleged that those behind the reports were attempting to create confusion and mislead the public.
Ememobong stated, “We, therefore, urge the public, particularly media organisations and journalists, to disregard these false reports and rely only on information communicated through the official channels of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Such rumours are being propagated by ill-wishers and PDP pretenders, who are APC apologists, in a desperate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.”
