Court Dismisses Suit for Turaki-led PDP Recognition

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Salim Ibrahim, struck out a suit that sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The court ruled that the plaintiffs, led by Adolphu Wabara, lacked the legal standing to institute the action.

Justice Ibrahim upheld preliminary objections raised by INEC, stating that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that INEC had a legal obligation to recognize the purported interim committee. The court further noted that the case depended on assumptions regarding INEC's obligations, which were not substantiated.

Consequently, the suit was dismissed, and the court awarded N10 million in costs against the plaintiffs in favor of the defendants, including members of the Wike-backed PDP faction.