2027: Appeal Court Dismisses Wabara-Led PDP BoT Suit Against INEC

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the dismissal of a suit filed by the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking recognition of the Tanimu Turaki-led interim National Working Committee of the party.

In a unanimous judgment, the appellate court affirmed the July 17 decision of the Federal High Court, which held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the action.

The suit sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Turaki-led faction and publish its leadership on the commission’s official website.

The Court of Appeal held that the appeal lacked merit, describing it as an academic exercise and an abuse of judicial process.

It also affirmed the ₦70 million cost imposed on the plaintiffs by the lower court and awarded an additional ₦5 million each to three groups of respondents.

The dispute is linked to the PDP leadership crisis, with the Wabara-led BoT seeking to validate the actions of the Turaki faction, including its November 2025 convention, which reportedly produced former President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The suit was challenged by a rival group, which argued that the plaintiffs lacked the legal authority to institute the action on behalf of the party.

The Federal High Court had earlier dismissed the case, holding that the plaintiffs failed to establish the legitimacy of the interim committee and that the suit sought to reopen issues already determined by the courts.