A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 for the hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Kabir Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice Salim Ibrahim adjourned the matter on Tuesday after all parties agreed to file and exchange their outstanding court processes before the next hearing.

The judge directed all parties to file and serve their processes on or before July 6, warning that no further delays would be tolerated when the case comes up for hearing.

Plaintiffs Seek Recognition of Interim PDP Leadership

The suit was instituted by the PDP Board of Trustees led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, alongside former Niger State Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Olabode George and the PDP.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel INEC to officially recognise the Kabir Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, update the party's leadership records on its official platforms and accept all official correspondence from the interim leadership.

According to the plaintiffs, the notification of the interim leadership was communicated to INEC through letters dated May 4 and May 15.

Plaintiffs Cite 2027 Election Timetable

During Tuesday's proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), urged the court to hear all pending joinder applications alongside the substantive suit to save judicial time.

He argued that the matter had become increasingly urgent because of INEC's timetable for the 2027 general elections.

"The commission has reiterated that its July 11 for the submission of names of candidates is sacrosanct.

"They said the submission started yesterday and parties have been given access code and we also need the access code too."

Describing the application as "a passionate appeal," Uche urged all parties not to oppose the request.

Counsel representing the PDP, Sunday Ameh (SAN); INEC's lawyer, O.A. Adeyemi; Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), representing parties seeking to be joined; and Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), who appeared for another set of applicants, all indicated they had no objection.

Justice Ibrahim subsequently fixed July 7 for the hearing of both the pending applications and the substantive suit.

Court Had Ordered Accelerated Hearing

The court had earlier, on June 19, ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter after the plaintiffs argued that the dispute required urgent determination because of the electoral timetable released by INEC.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

PDP BoT Relies on Court Judgments

In the suit, the plaintiffs contend that INEC is constitutionally obligated to give effect to judgments of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which they claim invalidated the PDP's November 2025 National Convention and upheld the suspension of key party officials.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu alleged that former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and three other party officials were suspended by the PDP National Working Committee on November 1, 2025, over allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and insubordination.

He further stated that subsequent appellate court decisions affirmed the suspensions and nullified the party's national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

According to Aliyu, the PDP Board of Trustees subsequently constituted an Interim National Working Committee headed by Kabir Turaki pending the conduct of a fresh national convention and formally notified INEC of the development.

The plaintiffs alleged that despite receiving the notifications, the electoral commission failed to update its records or recognise the interim leadership.

They described INEC's position as "a grave affront to the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution," urging the court to compel the commission to comply with what they described as subsisting appellate court judgments.