Appeal Court Rejects Turaki Faction’s INEC Recognition Bid

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on November 4 dismissed an appeal by Adolphus Wabara and seven others seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki. The unanimous ruling affirmed the Federal High Court’s refusal to order recognition, leaving that decision in place. The appellants, associated with the PDP’s Board of Trustees, had asked the appellate court to overturn the lower court’s judgment and direct INEC to recognise the Turaki-led committee. The Court of Appeal found no basis to interfere with the decision and dismissed the appeal. The appellate court also upheld ₦70 million in costs imposed on the appellants by the Federal High Court. It awarded a further ₦15 million: ₦5 million to INEC and ₦5 million jointly to each of two groups of respondents. The additional costs were part of the ruling reported by the court’s proceedings. The Federal High Court had declined to compel INEC to recognise the interim NWC. The appeal challenged that refusal and the lower court’s handling of the suit. In dismissing it, the Court of Appeal left the lower court’s judgment undisturbed; the...