A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 to hear a suit filed by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the Kabir Turaki-led interim National Working Committee of the party.
Justice Salim Ibrahim fixed the date on Tuesday, June 30, after all parties agreed to file and exchange every outstanding process before the next hearing.
The judge directed that all applications and responses must be filed and served on or before July 6, warning that the court would not entertain further delays when the matter comes up.
The suit was instituted by the PDP Board of Trustees led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, alongside former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Jerry Gana, Olabode George and the party.
First Daily reports that the plaintiffs want the court to compel INEC to recognise the Turaki-led interim leadership, update its records accordingly and accept all official correspondence from the committee, which they said was communicated to the commission through letters dated May 4.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), urged the court to hear all pending applications together with the substantive suit, arguing that time was running out because of INEC’s election timetable.
He said, “The commission has reiterated that its July 11 for the submission of names of candidates is sacrosanct.
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“They said the submission started yesterday and parties have been given access code and we also need the access code too.”
Describing the request as “a passionate appeal,” Uche urged other lawyers involved in the case not to oppose the application.
Lawyers representing the PDP, INEC and parties seeking to join the suit did not object to the request, prompting the court to adjourn proceedings until July 7.
The plaintiffs argue that previous judgments of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court invalidated the PDP’s November 2025 national convention and upheld the suspension of some party officials.
They contend that, following those judgments, the Board of Trustees appointed an interim National Working Committee headed by Kabir Turaki and formally notified INEC, but the commission has yet to recognise the new leadership.
The case is significant because the outcome could determine which faction of the PDP is authorised to submit candidates’ names to INEC as preparations for the 2027 general election continue.