The Federal High Court in Abuja will on Friday deliver a much-anticipated judgment in a suit that could significantly influence the ongoing leadership tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Salim Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver the verdict at 4 p.m. in the case filed by members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) led by former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, who are aligned with the faction headed by senior lawyer Kabir Turaki (SAN).

The suit, which has drawn intense interest from stakeholders within the opposition party, seeks to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognise and publish the interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Turaki on its website.

Court records show that hearing notices have already been served on all parties involved in the matter.

Justice Ibrahim had reserved judgment on July 7 after lawyers representing the various parties adopted their legal submissions and presented arguments for and against the case. At the time, the judge indicated that parties would be informed of the judgment date ahead of delivery.

At the heart of the dispute is the demand by the Wabara-led BoT for INEC to update its records and reflect the interim PDP leadership structure allegedly forwarded to the electoral commission by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The plaintiffs contend that details of the Turaki-led NWC were formally submitted to INEC through letters dated May 4 and should therefore be recognised and published by the commission.

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

Among the plaintiffs are prominent PDP figures, including former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Chief Olabode George, former Women Affairs Ministers Hajiya Maryam Ciroma and Hajiya Zainab Maina, as well as Dame Esther Uduehi. The PDP itself is also listed as a plaintiff.

However, the case has faced stiff opposition from another PDP faction believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The Wike-backed group challenged the jurisdiction of the court and questioned the legitimacy of the suit, particularly the inclusion of the PDP as a plaintiff.

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During proceedings, senior lawyer Sunday Ameh (SAN), who appeared on behalf of the PDP from the Wike camp, argued that the party never authorised the filing of the suit. He consequently filed applications seeking a change of counsel and the removal of the PDP’s name from the list of plaintiffs.

According to Ameh, the determination of whether the PDP was properly included in the suit is central to the case and must be resolved before any substantive issues can be addressed.

The Wike-aligned PDP leadership, comprising National Chairman Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade, also sought to be joined as defendants in the matter.

Similarly, former Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, alongside Abraham Amah and George Turner, applied to join the suit and urged the court to dismiss the action in its entirety.

On the other hand, Chief Uche strongly opposed the applications, describing them as misconceived, frivolous and lacking legal merit. He urged the court to reject both the request for a change of counsel and the bid to strike out the PDP as a plaintiff.

The plaintiffs further argued that the matter is time-sensitive, citing INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 general elections. They noted that July 17 was fixed as a deadline for key electoral processes, making an urgent resolution of the dispute necessary.

Meanwhile, INEC and all other parties opposing the suit filed preliminary objections and counter-affidavits, asking the court to dismiss the case.

With arguments on joinder applications, preliminary objections and the substantive suit concluded, Friday’s judgment is expected to provide clarity on the legal battle and could shape the future direction of the PDP as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.