Nigeria PDP leadership fight heads to court over interim committee

The faction of Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former minister Tanimu Turaki has denied rumours that its 2027 election candidates plan to sue the interim leadership, calling the reports false and harmful. The Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) says all candidates remain in regular contact with party officials.

The same faction is pursuing a court order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise its interim NWC. A suit filed by the PDP’s Board of Trustees seeks the same recognition, arguing that INEC has not uploaded the interim NWC members onto its candidate nomination portal. Justice Salim Ibrahim has adjourned the case, setting a judgment date for July 10. The dispute pits the Turaki-led interim leadership against a rival faction aligned with Governor Nyesom Wike, with both sides contesting INEC’s official listings ahead of the 2027 general elections.