Court of Appeal Rejects PDP Board of Trustees’ Bid to Force INEC Recognition

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a significant ruling regarding the internal leadership disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), upholding a lower court’s decision to dismiss a suit filed by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). The litigation, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, aimed to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognize the Tanimu Turaki-led interim National Working Committee.

Background of the Legal Challenge

According to reports from Channels Television, the legal battle centered on the BoT’s attempt to compel INEC to update its official website to reflect the leadership of the Turaki-led faction. The plaintiffs sought to validate the actions of this interim committee, which included the hosting of a convention in November 2025. That specific convention reportedly resulted in the selection of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a consensus presidential candidate for the upcoming 2027 general elections.

A rival faction within the party challenged the suit, arguing that the Wabara-led BoT lacked the necessary legal authority to initiate such proceedings on behalf of the PDP. This argument was central to the Federal High Court’s initial dismissal of the case on July 17, where the court determined that the plaintiffs failed to establish the legitimacy of the interim committee and were attempting to relitigate matters already settled by the judiciary.

Appellate Court Ruling

In a unanimous judgment, the Court of Appeal affirmed the Federal High Court’s findings. The appellate judges described the appeal as lacking merit, labeling the legal action as an “academic exercise” and an “abuse of judicial process.”

The court did not merely dismiss the appeal; it also upheld the financial penalties imposed by the lower court. The plaintiffs are now required to pay the original ₦70 million in costs, alongside an additional ₦5 million awarded to each of the three groups of respondents involved in the case.

Implications for the PDP

The ruling serves as a major setback for the faction seeking to solidify the Turaki-led interim committee’s authority. By affirming that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to bring the suit, the court has effectively reinforced the status quo regarding the party’s recognized leadership structure. Information regarding the next steps for the Wabara-led BoT or potential further appeals remains unavailable at this time.

As the 2027 election cycle approaches, this decision highlights the ongoing volatility within the PDP’s organizational structure. With the judiciary consistently ruling against attempts to bypass established internal protocols, the party faces continued pressure to resolve its leadership disputes through internal consensus rather than through the courts.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Channels Television

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