Court Throws Out Suit Seeking Recognition Of Turaki-Led PDP Leadership

A Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a suit that sought to force the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise a Kabiru Turaki-led interim leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled on Friday that the plaintiffs, led by PDP Board of Trustees chairman Adolphus Wabara, did not have the legal standing to bring the case. The court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

The case asked the court to compel INEC to update its records and publish the names of the factional interim National Working Committee headed by Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Channels TV, Daily Post and Punch reported that the court upheld INEC’s preliminary objection. Vanguard reported that the judge also declined requests tied to validating actions said to have been taken by the Turaki-led group.

The ruling leaves the dispute inside the PDP unresolved politically, but it blocks this particular attempt to use the court to force INEC recognition of the interim leadership.

Sources: Channels TV, Daily Post, Punch, Vanguard