A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Delivering the ruling, Justice Salim Ibrahim held that the plaintiffs, led by PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit. The court consequently struck out the case for want of jurisdiction.

The court upheld the preliminary objection filed by INEC and sustained similar objections raised by other parties seeking to be joined in the matter.

 

Justice Ibrahim ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the purported interim NWC or that they had the authority to sue on behalf of the PDP.

The suit was filed by members of the Wabara-led Board of Trustees, who sought an order compelling INEC to update its records and recognise the factional interim NWC headed by Kabiru Turaki (SAN). They also requested that the electoral body publish the names of the interim executives on its official website.

Among the plaintiffs were former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Olabode George, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and Dame Esther Uduehi.

INEC was listed as the sole defendant in the suit, which was filed on June 4 through a legal team led by Chris Uche (SAN).

However, a faction of the party aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and sought to be joined in the case. The group, led by its National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, argued that it represented the authentic leadership of the PDP and that the plaintiffs lacked the authority to initiate the action.

In an earlier ruling, Justice Ibrahim granted the joinder applications, noting that the interests of the applicants would be affected by the outcome of the case.

Subsequently, the court upheld all preliminary objections and struck out the suit, describing it as an abuse of court process. The judge held that the plaintiffs were attempting to relitigate issues that had already been settled by various courts.

The court also struck out the PDP’s name from the suit, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the party’s authorisation to institute the action in its name.

Justice Ibrahim further held that the suit had become academic, citing evidence that the PDP convention which produced the Mohammed-led executives was duly monitored by INEC.

Additionally, the court ruled that the suit was incompetent, having been commenced by Originating Summons despite the contentious nature of the dispute.

The court also took cognisance of existing judgments that nullified the PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, which produced the Turaki-led executives.

In conclusion, the court upheld the arguments of the respondents and dismissed the suit in its entirety.