Proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday were briefly disrupted after two Senior Advocates of Nigeria separately announced appearances for the Peoples Democratic Party in a suit seeking the recognition of the party’s interim leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The suit, filed by members of the party’s Board of Trustees led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, is seeking a court order directing INEC to recognise and publish the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee on its official website.
The plaintiffs are also asking the court to compel the electoral body to update its records to reflect the interim leadership allegedly forwarded to it by the PDP’s National Executive Committee through correspondence dated May 4.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026 and assigned to Justice Salim Ibrahim, was instituted on June 4 by a legal team headed by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
Among the plaintiffs are Wabara; former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana; PDP chieftain Bode George; former Women Affairs Ministers Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina; Dame Esther Uduehi; and the PDP.
However, a moment of confusion arose when the matter was called.
Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) informed the court that he was representing all eight plaintiffs, including the PDP. Moments later, Sunday Ameh (SAN) also rose and announced his appearance specifically for the PDP, the eighth plaintiff in the suit.
The development triggered mild drama in the courtroom as both senior lawyers laid claim to representing the party in the matter.
Several prominent PDP figures, including factional National Chairman Tanimu Turaki and Prof. Gana, were present during the proceedings.
The court is expected to continue hearing arguments on the request to compel INEC to recognise the party’s interim National Working Committee.