BREAKING: Federal High Court Dismisses Makinde-Backed PDP Faction Suit, Hands Major Legal Victory to Wike Camp
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has delivered a significant legal victory to the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, after dismissing a suit filed by the Makinde-backed Turaki faction seeking official recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In its judgment, the court affirmed Mohammed Abdulrahman as the National Chairman of the PDP and Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary, reinforcing their positions amid the prolonged leadership crisis within the opposition party.The suit had been instituted by the Makinde-backed Turaki faction, which sought an order compelling INEC to recognise its leadership and update the commission’s official records to reflect its faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP.
However, lawyers representing the Wike-aligned camp challenged the competence of the suit, arguing that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. They further maintained that the plaintiffs had no legal standing (locus standi) to institute the action.During the proceedings, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Samuel Anyanwu and other key members of the PDP applied to be joined in the case as representatives of what they described as the authentic leadership of the party.
They also urged the court to strike out the suit, insisting that it was not authorised by the recognised leadership of the PDP.Justice Ibrahim granted the applications for joinder filed by Mohammed Abdulrahman, Samuel Anyanwu, PDP National Legal Adviser Adeyemi Ajibade, Imo State PDP Chairman Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, George Turnah and Abraham Amah.
The court equally upheld Adeyemi Ajibade as the authentic National Legal Adviser of the PDP. It ruled that he did not authorise the individual claiming to be the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, to institute the suit on behalf of the party.In delivering judgment, Justice Ibrahim held that the case constituted an abuse of court process, noting that the plaintiffs were attempting to revive issues that had already been determined by various courts.
The judge subsequently struck out the PDP as a party in the suit and dismissed the action filed by the Makinde-backed Turaki faction.The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for the internal leadership dispute within the PDP, particularly regarding the party’s official recognition by INEC.
According to the position advanced by the Wike-aligned faction, the ruling means that candidates who obtained nomination forms through the Makinde-backed Turaki faction, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, will not be recognised by INEC unless there is a subsequent legal or administrative development affecting their status. The latest judgment represents another chapter in the prolonged leadership battle within Nigeria’s main opposition party, as rival factions continue to seek judicial validation of their claims to the party’s leadership.
