The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7, 2026 for definite hearing in a suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The matter, presided over by Justice Salim Ibrahim, will see all pending applications and the substantive suit heard together.
The judge also ordered all parties to file and serve their processes by July 6, warning that the court would not tolerate further delays.
Justice Ibrahim directed that all applications and the main suit would be taken simultaneously at the next adjourned date.
The court had earlier granted an accelerated hearing on June 19, 2026, citing urgency due to INEC’s election timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The PDP BoT faction is seeking urgent judicial intervention ahead of INEC’s deadline for submission of party candidate lists.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel INEC to recognise the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.
They are also seeking an order directing INEC to update its official records and publish the interim NWC on its website.
According to the suit, the names of the interim leadership were formally communicated to INEC on May 4, 2026.
Among the plaintiffs are:
- Sen. Adolphus Wabara (BoT Chairman)
- Muazu Babangida Aliyu (BoT Secretary, former Niger governor)
- Prof. Jerry Gana (former Minister of Information)
- Bode George (PDP chieftain)
- Maryam Ciroma (former Minister of Women Affairs)
The PDP itself is also listed as a plaintiff, while INEC is the sole defendant.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), told the court that the matter was time-sensitive due to INEC’s election schedule, which sets July 17, 2026 as the deadline for party submissions.
He urged the court to consolidate all motions and deliver a swift ruling.
Counsel representing other parties did not oppose the application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently fixed the matter for July 7.
The suit stems from an internal PDP leadership crisis and competing court decisions involving the party’s national structure.
The plaintiffs argue that INEC is constitutionally bound to recognise the interim NWC following multiple court rulings, including decisions from the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
They also claim that INEC has failed to update its records despite receiving formal notifications from the party.
In supporting affidavits, former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu alleged that INEC has refused to implement valid court judgments concerning the PDP leadership structure.
He argued that such refusal undermines constitutional authority and the rule of law.
Aliyu maintained that only judicial intervention can compel INEC to comply with subsisting court decisions.
