A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a legal suit aimed at compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The court, presided over by Justice Salim Ibrahim, delivered its judgment on Friday, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to bring the case. The suit, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, was struck out for want of jurisdiction. The court found that the plaintiffs failed to prove that INEC had acknowledged the Turaki-led committee or that they had the authority to represent the party in court.
Justice Ibrahim upheld the preliminary objection filed by INEC, which challenged the plaintiffs’ right to sue. The judge also sustained objections raised by other parties who sought to be joined in the suit, emphasizing that the plaintiffs did not meet the legal threshold for instituting the action. The court’s decision means that the Turaki-led committee’s claim to legitimacy remains unrecognised by the judiciary in this particular legal challenge. The ruling underscores the importance of legal standing in electoral and party governance disputes in Nigeria.
The plaintiffs had argued that INEC’s refusal to publish the names of the Turaki-led INWC violated the party’s internal regulations and electoral laws. They claimed that the committee had been duly elected and that its recognition was necessary for the PDP to function effectively ahead of upcoming elections. However, the court dismissed these claims, stating that the plaintiffs could not demonstrate that INEC had any legal obligation to recognise the committee or that the plaintiffs themselves had the authority to demand such recognition on behalf of the party.
The judgment has significant implications for the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP. The Turaki-led INWC has been at the centre of a power struggle with the party’s leadership, which is headed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. The court’s decision reinforces the position of INEC and the party’s official leadership, which has not recognised the Turaki group as legitimate. It also highlights the legal complexities surrounding party governance in Nigeria, where internal disputes often spill into the courts.
This development comes amid heightened political activity as Nigeria prepares for future elections. The PDP, one of Nigeria’s major political parties, continues to grapple with internal divisions that could affect its performance in upcoming electoral contests. The court’s ruling may influence how other political parties handle similar disputes, setting a precedent for legal challenges in party leadership matters. As the political landscape evolves, stakeholders will closely watch how the PDP resolves its internal conflicts and whether further legal actions will be pursued.
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