Nigerian Court Fines PDP BoT N140 Million for Frivolous Lawsuit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a N140 million fine on the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for initiating a frivolous lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other parties. Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the leadership dispute suit, ruling it to be an abuse of court process, unmeritorious, and lacking in substance. The judge cited Section 83(6)(b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, in ordering the fine, stating that "cost follows event."

In addition to the substantial fine against the BoT, the court also ordered Chris Uche, the plaintiffs' counsel, to pay N10 million. This measure was intended to deter the filing of frivolous suits, particularly concerning the internal affairs of political parties. The Wabara-led BoT had filed the suit seeking a court order compelling INEC to officially recognize the PDP interim National Working Committee (NWC) faction led by National Chairman Kabiru Turaki on its website. They had previously submitted the names of the Turaki-led NWC members to the electoral body on May 4.

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cost follows event

The originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chris Uche. The plaintiffs included former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, BoT Secretary and former Governor Babangida Aliyu, ex-Minister of Information Jerry Gana, and PDP chieftain Olabode George, among others. They sued INEC as the sole defendant.

However, a faction of the PDP loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, intervened, challenging the court's jurisdiction. Lawyers representing the Wike-backed PDP executives, led by National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, sought to be joined as defendants. They, along with other parties seeking to join the suit, prayed for its dismissal. All defendants, including INEC, had filed preliminary objections and counter-affidavits arguing that the case was an abuse of court process and incompetent.

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abuse of court process, unmeritorious and lacking in merit.