Appeal Court Deals Fresh Blow To Wabara’s PDP Faction, Upholds Turaki Leadership Dispute Ruling

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Board of Trustees (BoT) faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, seeking recognition of the Kabiru Turaki-led group as the party’s authentic leadership.

The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered virtually on Wednesday, affirmed the July decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which struck out a suit instituted by the Wabara-led BoT against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit sought to compel INEC to recognise and publish the names of members of the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee.

Reading the judgment, Justice R.O. Ayoola held that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the decision of the lower court.

“The appeal, therefore, fails, and the decision of the lower court is affirmed,” the court ruled.

The appellate court also upheld the cost order imposed by the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Salim Ibrahim, which awarded ₦70 million against Wabara and his BoT group, alongside ₦10 million in personal costs against their lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN.

The panel said the lower court’s cost order would remain undisturbed, subject to the scope of the appeal and the specific grounds presented for determination.

However, the Court of Appeal struck out the name of the eighth appellant, the Peoples Democratic Party, from the appeal while affirming the cost award against the seven individual appellants.

In a further financial penalty, the appellate court awarded an additional ₦15 million in costs against Wabara and his six co-appellants.

Justice Ayoola directed that ₦5 million be paid to the first respondent, another ₦5 million jointly to the second, third and fourth respondents, and the remaining ₦5 million jointly to the fifth, sixth and seventh respondents.

The Federal High Court had earlier ruled that Wabara and the other applicants lacked the legal standing to institute the action, adding that the dispute concerned the internal affairs of a political party, over which the court lacked jurisdiction in the circumstances of the case.

The Turaki faction had subsequently indicated its intention to challenge that decision, arguing that it was inconsistent with earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on related leadership disputes within the PDP.

Wednesday’s ruling, however, reinforces the Federal High Court’s position on the particular suit brought by the Wabara-led group.

The seven appellants were Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana; PDP chieftain, Olabode George; and former ministers Maryam Ciroma, Zainab Maina and Esther Uduehi.

The respondents included PDP National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Kamardeen Ajibade, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah and George Turner.

The virtual proceedings attracted about 70 participants connected through the court’s Zoom platform to witness the delivery of the judgment.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official indication that the Wabara-led group or the Turaki faction had initiated a further appeal to the Supreme Court.