Appeal Court Upholds INEC’s Recognition of Wike-Backed PDP Leadership, Dismisses Turaki Faction’s Suit

Appeal Court Upholds INEC’s Recognition of Wike-Backed PDP Leadership, Dismisses Turaki Faction’s Suit

 

Abuja, Nigeria — The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a significant judicial setback to the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, affirming the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the group’s Interim National Working Committee. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1221/2026, which was filed by Senator Adolphus Wabara and seven others. The panel, presided over by Justice Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu, with Justices Laja Balogun and Ruquayat Oremei Ayoola, upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had declined to compel INEC to recognize the Turaki-led interim leadership.

 

The legal battle stems from the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked Nigeria’s main opposition party. The Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee was constituted following a National Executive Committee meeting held in the wake of a Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute. However, the Wike-backed faction, which enjoys INEC’s recognition, has consistently challenged the legitimacy of the interim committee. The appellants had approached the appellate court seeking to set aside the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Salim, which refused to compel INEC to recognize the interim committee. They argued that the party’s internal mechanisms had been exhausted and that the electoral body was bound to recognize the new leadership structure.

 

In its ruling on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal found no merit in the appeal, upholding the lower court’s decision in its entirety. The panel held that the appellants failed to establish a legal basis for compelling INEC to recognize a leadership structure that emerged outside the established constitutional framework of the party. The judgment reinforces the position of the Wike-backed leadership, which has maintained that only a leadership recognized by the courts and the electoral commission can lawfully run the affairs of the PDP.

 

Reacting to the judgment, the Turaki-led faction expressed disappointment but resolved to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the group said it respected the court’s decision but remained committed to pursuing what it described as justice. “We are determined to take our quest for justice anchored on truth to the apex court in the land. It is our belief that no matter how deep the truth is buried, if those seeking it are persistent in digging, it will one day resurface,” the statement read. Ememobong disclosed that the group’s lawyers had been instructed to immediately commence the process of appealing the judgment before the Supreme Court. “We have instructed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal before the Supreme Court, in the hope that justice will eventually be done,” he added.

 

The faction also emphasized the importance of a strong opposition party to Nigeria’s democratic development, arguing that the PDP must remain an independent political force capable of holding the ruling party accountable. “The PDP, as the main opposition party, must provide a credible alternative to the ruling party and not become its appendage. Democracy survives only when the opposition is strong enough to effectively engage the government,” the statement added.

 

The latest ruling is another development in the prolonged leadership crisis rocking the PDP, which has been characterized by competing claims over the control of the party’s national leadership and structures. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the party’s ability to present a united front remains a critical challenge. The Turaki faction has urged party members to remain steadfast as the legal battle moves to the Supreme Court, expressing confidence that the eventual outcome would strengthen multiparty democracy in the country. As the case heads to the apex court, the PDP’s leadership tussle continues to test the resilience of Nigeria’s judicial system and the internal democratic processes of political parties.

 

 

Appeal Court Upholds INEC’s Recognition of Wike-Backed PDP Leadership, Dismisses Turaki Faction’s Suit