By James
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The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a fresh legal turn after a Federal High Court in Abuja fixed July 7, 2026, to hear all pending applications and the substantive suit seeking to determine the party’s authentic national leadership.
Justice Salim Ibrahim scheduled the hearing after all parties agreed to conclude the filing and exchange of court processes before the adjourned date. The judge directed that every outstanding document must be filed and served on or before July 6, warning that the court would not entertain further delays.
The suit was instituted by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, alongside other prominent PDP stakeholders, including former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, Jerry Gana, Olabode George and the PDP itself.
At the heart of the legal dispute is a request for the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the interim National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Kabir Turaki as the party’s legitimate leadership.
The plaintiffs are also asking the court to direct INEC to update its official records to reflect the Turaki-led leadership and accept all official communications from the interim committee.
During proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), urged the court to hear all pending joinder applications together with the substantive case, arguing that doing so would accelerate the resolution of the dispute.
He stressed the urgency of the matter, noting that INEC had already commenced the process for political parties to submit candidates ahead of the commission’s July 11 deadline, with access codes already issued to recognised party officials.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4, 2026, by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN). The plaintiffs contend that INEC failed to acknowledge the Turaki-led interim NWC despite receiving formal notifications through letters dated May 4 and May 15.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Babangida Aliyu described the electoral commission’s refusal to recognise the interim leadership as a violation of constitutional principles and the rule of law.
The legal battle stems from the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, following a court judgment that reportedly nullified the party’s November 2025 national convention. Following that ruling, a rival faction reportedly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by Mohammed Abdulrahman, was recognised by INEC, further deepening divisions within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The outcome of the July 7 hearing is expected to play a significant role in determining which faction will exercise official control of the PDP as preparations intensify for future elections.
