Wabara-Led PDP BoT Takes INEC to Court, Seeks Recognition of Interim Leadership

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Adolphus Wabara, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the party’s interim National Working Committee (NWC).

The suit, filed under FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, seeks an order directing INEC to update its official records and publish the names of the interim NWC members nominated by the PDP’s BoT and National Executive Committee (NEC).

The plaintiffs include prominent PDP figures such as Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Jerry Gana, Olabode George, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, and Esther Uduehi, with INEC named as the only defendant.

The action comes shortly after the Court of Appeal nullified significant aspects of a Federal High Court ruling that had recognised a rival caretaker committee within the party.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on June 3, the appellate court ruled that the lower court granted orders that were never requested by any of the parties involved in the dispute, thereby exceeding its jurisdiction.

The plaintiffs contend that INEC is obligated under the Constitution to enforce existing court judgments concerning the PDP leadership crisis, including decisions from the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

They are asking the court to order the electoral commission to recognise all communications, notices and official correspondence issued by the interim NWC established by the BoT and NEC.

In his supporting affidavit, former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu stated that several top PDP officials, including former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, were suspended in November 2025 over allegations ranging from misconduct to anti-party activities and insubordination.

He said subsequent court rulings upheld those suspensions and also invalidated the PDP’s November 2025 national convention.

According to Aliyu, the resulting leadership vacuum prompted the BoT to establish an interim NWC to oversee party affairs until a valid national convention is conducted.

He noted that the details of the interim committee were officially communicated to INEC in May 2026, but alleged that the commission has yet to reflect the changes in its records or accord the committee formal recognition.

Aliyu argued that INEC is duty-bound to obey subsisting court judgments and urged the court to compel the commission to recognise the interim leadership arrangement.

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.

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