The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit brought by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise its preferred interim National Working Committee.
Justice Salim Ibrahim announced the decision after counsel for all parties adopted their final written addresses and presented oral arguments on Tuesday. The judge stated that the judgment date would subsequently be communicated to the parties.
The plaintiffs, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, are seeking a court order mandating INEC to update its official records and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led interim NWC on its website. The names were submitted to the electoral body via letters dated May 4.
The originating summons, filed on June 4 by a legal team headed by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, names INEC as the sole defendant.
However, a rival PDP faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. The Wike-backed leadership, comprising National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade, has applied to be joined as defendants.
Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, representing the faction, argued that the applicants were elected as a caretaker committee pursuant to an Ibadan court judgment, which declared the November 2025 convention a nullity and mandated an interim leadership.
Joseph Daudu, SAN, also appeared for another group seeking joinder.
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Uche, opposed the joinder applications, describing the applicants as “meddlesome interlopers and busybodies”. He argued that the reliefs sought in the originating summons bore no relevance to any party other than INEC, citing Section 287 of the Constitution.
INEC’s lawyer, Olusegun Adeyemi, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction, filing a preliminary objection dated June 22.
Mr Uche has stressed the time-sensitive nature of the dispute, referencing INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, which sets July 17 as the deadline for uploading candidates’ names.
Sunday Ameh, SAN, who appeared separately for the PDP as eighth plaintiff, contested the party’s inclusion in the suit, arguing that Mr Uche lacked authorisation to file on its behalf. He has filed a motion seeking to strike out the PDP’s name.
The BoT members pursuing the suit include ex-Senate President Wabara, former Niger Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, and party chieftain Olabode George.
Justice Ibrahim had previously granted leave for all parties to file their processes, including preliminary objections and counter-affidavits, which would be considered together at the substantive hearing.
All counsel subsequently adopted their submissions, and the judge reserved judgment.