Court dismisses suit seeking recognition for PDP faction

A Nigerian Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit that aimed to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The ruling dashes the faction's hopes of participating in the 2027 general elections under its leadership.

Justice Salim Ibrahim, presiding over the case, declared the suit incompetent and lacking in merit. The court found that the plaintiffs, identified as the Board of Trustees of the PDP led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, did not possess the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the action. Consequently, the suit was struck out for want of jurisdiction.

The ruling highlighted that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that INEC had recognized the purported interim National Working Committee (NWC) established by the caretaker committee, nor did they prove their authority to sue on behalf of the PDP. This dismissal comes after INEC had already recognized and published the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership, which is reportedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the legitimate leadership of the PDP.