The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday directed that proceedings in a suit involving Adolphus Wabara led Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission be heard on an accelerated basis.
Justice Salim Ibrahim made the order following submissions by counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who told the court that the matter was time sensitive due to INEC’s electoral timetable ahead of the 2027 general elections, which sets a July deadline for related processes.
The suit seeks judicial intervention compelling the electoral body to recognise the Kabir Turaki led interim National Working Committee of the party and reflect the leadership structure on its official records and website.
It also asks the court to order INEC to update its database to reflect the interim leadership submitted through official correspondence from the party’s National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees.
Court documents show that the names of the Turaki led National Working Committee were communicated to INEC in letters dated May 4.
The originating summons, filed on June 4, lists Adolphus Wabara, former Senate President; Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information; Olabode George; Maryam Ciroma; Zainab Maina; Esther Uduehi and the Peoples Democratic Party as plaintiffs, with INEC as the sole respondent.
When the matter was called, counsel informed the court of multiple legal representations and competing applications, including motions for joinder and objections relating to representation of the party.
Several lawyers also appeared seeking to be joined as parties, while others filed motions challenging party representation and asking the court to strike out the name of the PDP from the suit.
INEC’s legal representative confirmed service of court processes and stated that the commission would not oppose applications for joinder, leaving issues of representation to the court’s discretion.
After listening to submissions from all sides, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter to June 30 for hearing of pending applications, including joinder requests and motions challenging representation issues.
The judge further directed all parties to comply strictly with filing timelines, warning that no form of delay would be tolerated due to the urgency of the case.
The case was subsequently fixed for continuation of hearing on June 30 at noon.