Internal PDP Conflict: Wabara, Babangida Aliyu, and Jerry Gana Lead Lawsuit Against INEC, Demanding Legitimization

The Peoples Democratic Party's Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Adolphus Wabara, has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, seeking formal acknowledgment of the party's interim National Working Committee.

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This legal action, filed on June 4 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, bears the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026 and requests that the court order INEC to update its records and publish the names of the interim NWC members on its official website.

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The plaintiffs in the suit include notable figures such as Wabara, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Jerry Gana, Olabode George, Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina, and Esther Uduehi, while INEC stands as the sole defendant.

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The lawsuit comes on the heels of a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned key aspects of a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Ibadan, which had recognized a factional caretaker committee within the PDP.

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On June 3, the appellate court delivered a unanimous judgment, criticizing the trial court for granting reliefs that were not sought by any of the parties involved in the PDP leadership crisis.

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The court found fault with the lower court for exceeding the issues presented before it, prompting the plaintiffs to seek declarations that INEC is bound by the constitution to enforce and give effect to various court judgments related to the party's leadership dispute.

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The plaintiffs are also requesting that the court direct INEC to accept and act on all official communications from the interim NWC constituted by the PDP's Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.

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In an affidavit supporting the suit, Muazu Babangida Aliyu stated that several key party officials, including former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, were suspended by the party's NWC in November 2025 due to allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities.

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Aliyu claimed that these suspensions were upheld through subsequent court proceedings, while judicial decisions also nullified the PDP's national convention held in November 2025, creating vacancies in the party's leadership structure.

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According to Aliyu, the Board of Trustees constituted an interim NWC to oversee the party's affairs pending a valid national convention, and details of the interim NWC were communicated to INEC through letters sent in May 2026.

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However, Aliyu alleged that INEC failed to update its records or recognize the committee despite receiving the correspondence, prompting him to argue that INEC has a constitutional obligation to comply with valid court judgments.

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At the time of filing, the suit had not been assigned to a judge.