Judgment Day for Turaki-led PDP Suit Against INEC

Court to Decide Fate of Turaki-led PDP Faction

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A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver a judgment in a suit filed by the Sen. Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Kabir Turaki, SAN, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others. The suit, which seeks recognition of the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) on INEC's official website, has sparked a heated debate in the party.

### Key Players in the PDP Crisis Adolphus Wabara is a former Senate President, while Kabir Turaki, SAN, is a senior advocate and a key figure in the PDP. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Nyesom Wike, has backed the opposing faction, while the Turaki-led group claims it is the legitimate leadership of the PDP. The suit has also drawn in other prominent figures, including former governors and ministers.

### Background to the Suit The crisis began when the INEC refused to recognize the Turaki-led NWC, leading to a dispute over the party's leadership. The Wabara-led BoT, however, claims that they forwarded the names of the Turaki-led NWC to INEC via a letter dated May 4. They are now seeking an order of the court compelling INEC to recognize the Turaki-led NWC on its official website.

### The Lawsuit The originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN. The plaintiffs, who include former governors, ministers, and party chieftains, are seeking an order directing INEC to update its records and publish the interim NWC on its official website. The suit has been met with opposition from the Wike-backed PDP faction, which has challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

### What's at Stake The outcome of the judgment will determine the fate of the Turaki-led PDP faction and its legitimacy as the leadership of the party. The PDP, once the ruling party in Nigeria, has been embroiled in a series of leadership crises in recent years, and this latest development has sparked fears of a possible split in the party. The ruling will also have implications for the 2027 general elections, as the PDP is one of the major parties contesting for power.

### Timeline The court reserved judgment on July 7 after counsel to the parties adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit. The date of the judgment has now been fixed for Friday, July 16, at 4 p.m.

### What's Next The judge has directed that the ruling will be communicated to the parties 24 hours in advance. The INEC has been ordered to update its records and publish the interim NWC on its official website, pending the outcome of the judgment. The Turaki-led PDP faction is optimistic that the court will rule in their favor, while the Wike-backed faction remains defiant.

### Nigerian Angle The PDP is one of the major parties in Nigeria, and its leadership crisis has significant implications for the country's politics. The party has been embroiled in a series of disputes in recent years, and this latest development has sparked fears of a possible split. The ruling will have far-reaching consequences for the party and the country as a whole.