Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Bornet .k
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined an application seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) amid the ongoing leadership crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The court’s decision was delivered in a suit filed by the Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees, which sought judicial intervention over the party’s leadership dispute and requested orders compelling INEC to acknowledge actions linked to its preferred faction. The case formed part of a wider legal battle over control of the party’s leadership structure ahead of future political activities.
The legal challenge was initiated by members of the PDP Board of Trustees led by former Senate President Senator Adolphus Wabara. The plaintiffs had argued that INEC had a constitutional responsibility to recognise lawful decisions arising from the party’s internal processes and update its records accordingly.
Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja handled the matter, which attracted significant attention due to the implications for the future direction of the PDP. The court had earlier granted an accelerated hearing because of the urgency attached to the dispute.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, involved arguments over the legitimacy of the party’s leadership arrangements and whether INEC could be directed by the court to recognise a particular faction. After hearing submissions from the parties, the court proceeded to determine the application.
The ruling comes amid a prolonged internal crisis within the PDP, with different groups laying claim to control of the party’s national leadership structures. The dispute has involved senior party figures, including members of the Board of Trustees and other influential stakeholders seeking to resolve disagreements over the party’s direction.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, a former President of the Nigerian Senate, has served as chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, a body regarded as the party’s advisory and stabilising institution. His leadership of the BoT has placed him at the centre of efforts to address the party’s internal disagreements.
Political observers say the outcome of the court proceedings could have significant consequences for the PDP as it prepares for future electoral contests. However, the latest decision means INEC will not be compelled through this application to recognise the Wabara-led arrangement.
The Federal High Court’s decision is expected to further shape ongoing discussions within the opposition party as stakeholders continue efforts to resolve the leadership dispute through legal and political channels.
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