COURT WITNESSES DRAMA OVER PDP’S LEGAL TEAM IN SUIT SEEKING INEC RECOGNITION

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By; Ganiyat Sunmola

There was mild courtroom drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as two senior lawyers separately announced appearances for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit filed by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case, before Justice Salim Ibrahim, seeks to compel INEC to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP and update its official records accordingly.

The suit was instituted by the PDP and key members of its BoT, including former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, and party elder Olabode George, among others.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to direct INEC to publish the names of the interim NWC members, which they said were submitted to the commission through letters dated May 4 following decisions of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

However, confusion arose during Friday’s proceedings when Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) announced his appearance for all eight plaintiffs, including the PDP. Moments later, Sunday Ameh (SAN) also rose to announce that he was representing the PDP, the eighth plaintiff in the matter.

The conflicting appearances sparked uncertainty in the courtroom over who officially represented the party in the suit.

Among those present in court were factional PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki and former Minister of Information Jerry Gana.

Further details are expected as proceedings continue.