By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dealing a setback to the faction’s bid for official recognition.
Delivering judgment on Friday, July 17, 2026, Justice Salim Ibrahim held that the plaintiffs, led by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit.
The court consequently struck out the case for want of jurisdiction, upholding the preliminary objection raised by INEC.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to compel INEC to recognise and publish the names of the Turaki-led interim leadership, arguing that it was validly constituted.
However, the court ruled that they failed to establish the legal authority to initiate the action on behalf of the PDP.
Justice Ibrahim further held that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process, noting that it sought to relitigate issues already determined by competent courts.
The ruling represents another chapter in the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP.
Following the judgment, the Turaki-led faction indicated its intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, while the recognised leadership of the party welcomed the verdict as a reaffirmation of the existing legal position.
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