A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the plaintiffs, led by Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing to institute the action. The court consequently struck out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

The judge upheld the preliminary objection filed by INEC and sustained similar objections raised by parties that sought to be joined in the case.

According to the court, the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the purported interim leadership or that they possessed the legal authority to institute the action on behalf of the PDP.

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The Wabara-led Board of Trustees had approached the court to compel INEC to update its records and recognise the Kabiru Turaki (SAN)-led interim National Working Committee.

The plaintiffs also sought an order directing the electoral commission to publish the names of the interim executives on its official website.

They argued that the names of members of the Turaki-led leadership had been forwarded to INEC through letters dated May 4, insisting that the commission was constitutionally obliged to recognise the interim executives.

The suit was filed by Wabara alongside former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Olabode George, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Dame Esther Uduehi and the PDP.

INEC was listed as the sole defendant in the action, which was instituted on June 4 through a legal team led by Chris Uche (SAN).

A faction of the PDP aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, challenged the suit and sought to be joined in the proceedings.

The group, led by its National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, maintained that it represented the authentic leadership of the party and argued that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the case.

Justice Ibrahim granted the joinder applications, holding that the interests of the applicants would be directly affected by the outcome of the suit.

The court subsequently upheld all preliminary objections and described the action as an abuse of court process.

According to the judge, the plaintiffs were attempting to relitigate issues that had already been determined by competent courts.

The court also struck out the PDP’s name from the suit, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the party’s authorisation to institute legal proceedings on its behalf.

Justice Ibrahim further held that the case had become academic, noting that evidence before the court showed INEC duly monitored the PDP national convention that produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led executives.

The judge also faulted the procedure adopted by the plaintiffs, ruling that the matter was improperly commenced by Originating Summons despite the contentious issues involved.

In addition, the court took judicial notice of previous judgments that nullified the PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, which produced the Kabiru Turaki-led executives.

Having upheld the respondents’ arguments, Justice Ibrahim dismissed the suit, bringing the legal challenge against INEC’s recognition of the PDP leadership to an end at the Federal High Court.