The leadership of the One Rivers Movement, a socio-political organisation in Rivers State, has criticised the recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja striking out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the group described the court’s decision as “alien to democracy” and contrary to the interests of Nigerians, expressing concern over its implications for the country’s democratic process.
The suit, instituted by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, alongside other party stakeholders, sought an order directing INEC to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led interim leadership of the party.
However, Justice Salim Ibrahim struck out the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked the requisite legal standing (locus standi) to institute the action.
The plaintiffs in the matter included former Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; Prof. Jerry Gana; Chief Olabode George; Hajiya Maryam Ciroma; Hajiya Zainab Maina; Dame Esther Uduehi; and the Peoples Democratic Party. INEC was the sole defendant in the suit, which was filed on 4 June by a legal team led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN.
Reacting to the judgment, the One Rivers Movement expressed disappointment that the court upheld the preliminary objection raised by INEC and sustained similar objections filed by parties seeking to be joined in the matter.
The group further criticised INEC’s continued recognition of the faction of the PDP aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and led by Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, describing the development as a threat to democratic representation.
According to the organisation, recognising that faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP undermines the rights of ordinary party members and weakens public confidence in democratic institutions.
The movement also questioned what it described as inconsistencies between the Federal High Court’s ruling and previous decisions of the Supreme Court concerning the PDP’s leadership crisis.
It argued that the apex court had made pronouncements affecting the status of several party officials, including former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and maintained that actions taken by officials whose legitimacy had been challenged ought not to be accorded legal recognition.
The group further contended that the tenure of the PDP’s elected National Executive Committee had expired in December 2025, arguing that the party’s Board of Trustees should have assumed responsibility for its affairs in accordance with relevant judicial pronouncements.
“It is surprising that the Federal High Court delivered a decision which, in our view, appears inconsistent with previous pronouncements of the Supreme Court regarding the leadership of the party,” the group stated.
The One Rivers Movement called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, to take urgent steps to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary by ensuring the consistent application of the law and preserving the integrity of the judicial system.
The group warned that public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions could be eroded if concerns over conflicting judicial decisions are not adequately addressed.
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