PDP Crisis: Wabara, Babangida Aliyu, Jerry Gana, others sue INEC, seek recognition
PDP Board of Trustees Sues INEC for Recognition of Interim Committee
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Adolphus Wabara, has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The suit aims to secure official recognition for the party’s interim National Working Committee (NWC).
Filed on June 4 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suit is designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026. The plaintiffs are requesting that the court compel INEC to update its records and publish on its official website the names of the interim NWC members as forwarded by the BoT and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.
The plaintiffs include Wabara, former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Olabode George, and former ministers Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina, along with BoT member Esther Uduehi. INEC serves as the sole defendant in the case.
This legal action follows a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which overturned key components of a Federal High Court judgment recognizing a factional caretaker committee within the PDP. On June 3, the appellate court ruled unanimously that the lower court had granted reliefs not sought by any party involved in the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that INEC is constitutionally required to enforce various court judgments from the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria pertaining to the party’s leadership crisis. Additionally, they are requesting that INEC be directed to accept and act upon all official communications from the interim NWC constituted by the BoT and NEC.
In a supporting affidavit, Aliyu noted the suspension of several key party officials, including former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, by the NWC in November 2025 due to allegations of misconduct and insubordination. According to Aliyu, these suspensions were upheld in subsequent court proceedings, which also nullified the PDP’s national convention conducted in November 2025.
Following the judicial rulings that created vacancies in the party’s leadership, the BoT formed an interim NWC to manage the PDP’s affairs until a valid national convention can be held. Aliyu stated that the details of the interim NWC and related assignments were communicated to INEC in May 2026, but the commission has yet to update its records or acknowledge the committee.
The plaintiffs contend that INEC has a constitutional obligation to comply with valid court judgments and are urging the court to mandate recognition of the interim leadership structure.
As of the time of filing, the case had not been assigned to a judge.
