The Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees (BoT), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has instituted a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding recognition of its interim National Working Committee (NWC).

The BoT and the PDP, in a fresh suit, sought an order compelling the INEC to, forthwith, update its records and publish on its official website the NWC of the party as forwarded to it by the plaintiffs and its National Executive Committee (NEC).

They said the names of members of the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC was forwarded to the electoral umpire via their letters dated May 4.

The originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was filed on June 4 by a team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN.

Listed as plaintiffs are former Senate President Wabara; BoT Secretary, a Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana and a PDP chieftain, Olabode George as 1st to 4th plaintiffs.

Others include a former minister of women affairs, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma; also an ex-minister of women affairs and social development, Hajiya Zainab Maina; member of BoT and NEC, Dame Esther Uduehi and PDP as 5th to 8th plaintiffs respectively.

The plaintiffs sued INEC as sole defendant in the suit.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on June 3, set aside key aspects of an Ibadan Division of the Federal High Court judgement that recognised a factional caretaker committee in the PDP.

The appellate court held that the trial court granted reliefs that were never sought by any of the parties to the suit.

Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, in a unanimous judgement , faulted Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, for going beyond the issues placed before the court in a dispute arising from the PDP leadership crisis.

Justice Agomoh in a judgment delivered on January 30, recognised the caretaker committee led by Abdurahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu of Nyesom Wike’s camp, as the legitimate leadership faction of the party.

However, the Court of Appeal held that none of the parties before the lower court had sought such a declaration.

Meanwhile, the Wabara-led BoT of the PDP, in the suit filed on June 4, sought a declaration that INEC is constitutionally bound to enforce and give full effect to the decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in a suit number: CV/1050/2025 between Senator Samuel nyanwu vs. Amb. Umar Damagun and eight others delivered on Jan. 12.

They sought a declaration that the commission is also bound by decisions in appeal number: CA/ABI/1613/2025, between PDP and two others Vs. Hon. Austine Nwachukwu and eight others delivered on March 9 and appeal numbers: SC/CV/164/2026 between PDP Vs. Alhaji Sule Lamido and four others and SC/CV/166/2026 between PDP and two others Vs. Hon Austine Nwachukwu and eight others both delivered on April 30.

They, therefore, prayed the court for an order directing INEC to accept and give effect to all official correspondences, communications, notices and engagements concerning the party from the interim NWC and for the commission to direct the same emanating from it to the NWC as forwarded to it by the plaintiffs and the NEC via their letters dated May 4.

In the affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by ex-governor Aliyu, he said on November 1, 2025, “key officers of PDP (8th plaintiff) like Sen. Anyanwu, Hon Umar M. Bature, Adeyemi Kamaldeen Ajibade and Okechukwu Osuoha were suspended by a resolution of the NWC for gross misconduct, anti-party activities and insubordination against the 8th plaintiff.”

Mr Aliyu said that at the 608 meeting of the NWC held on November 1, 2025, their suspension was approved and they were referred to National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) for further action.

He said the affected four members deliberately refused, failed and neglected to submit themselves to the party’s NDC and continue to act as officers of the party even when there was no any resolution lifting their suspension.

He said that Mr Anyanwu was earlier recommended for expulsion as a member of the PDP by a report dated March 10, 2025 submitted by the NDC.

Mr Aliyu said, subsequently, the NDC’s recommendation for the expulsion of Mr Anyanwu was upheld at the 608 meeting of the NWC held on November 1, 2025.

He said upon his expulsion, Mr Anyanwu filed suit number: CV/1050/2025 against Mr Damagun and others at the FCT High Court, challenging his exputsion as a member of the party.

He averred that on January 12, the FCT High Court delivered its judgment, dismissing Mr Anyanwu’s claim in the said suit on the merit.

The ex-governor said the BoT, at its emergency meeting held on November 5, 2025, constituted the board reconcilaton committee, preparatory to its national elective convention.

He said the party held its elective national conventon on November 15 and 16, 2025 and elected its natonal officers.

According to him, the convention was subject of several litigation that went through the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court.

Mr Aliyu said the convention was nullified by the Court of Appeal in appeal number: CA/A8)/1613/2025, between PDP and two others Vs. Hon Austine Nwachukwu and eight others delivered on March 9.

He said the judgement of the appellate court referred to also affirmed the suspension of the key officers of the PDP referred to in paragraph 11 by virtue of the resolution of the party’s NWC.

He said on further appeal to the Supreme Court, the apex court, in its judgment in appeal numbers: SC/CV/164/2026, between PDP Vs. Alhaji Sule Lamido and four others and SC/CV/166/2026, between PDP and two others Vs. Hon Austine Nwachukwu and eight others, both delivered on April 30 also affirmed the Appeal Court judgement, nullifying the convention of the PDP held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

In addition, he said the apex court judgement further dismissed the cross appeal, challenging the suspension of the key officers of the party mentioned in paragraph 11 supra.

Mr Aliyu said the resolution of the NWC dated November 1, 2025, upon which the suspension of A. K. Ajibade, SAN, was affirmed by the Court of Appeal and cross appeal against the same to the Supreme Court was dismissed, suspended A. K. Ajibade, SAN, alongside Anyanwu, Bature and Osuoha

He stated, “Consequent, upon the vacuum created in the leadership structure of the PDP following the judgment nullifying the November 15 and Nov.16, 2025 elective national convention of the 8th plaintiff and which also upheld the suspension of the affected key officers of the 8th plaintiff, the BoT, comprising the 1st to 7th plaintiffs constituted an interim NWC mandated to oversee the affairs of the 8th plaintiff pending the conduct of a valid national convention.”

He said the constitution of the interim NWC was communicated to the INEC by the party’s BOT and NEC through their letters dated Monday, May 4 respectively.

The former governor said, consequently, the NWC, at its meeting heid on May 12, assigned portfolios to members of the interim NWC as constituted by its BoT and NEC, as was forwarded to the commission vide Exhibits “9” and “10” respectively.

He said the electoral umpire was subsequently notified of the assignment of the portfolios by the interim NWC’s letter dated May 15.

Mr Aliyu, however, said that in spite of the receipt of Exhibits “9” and “10” dated May 4 and Exhibit “11” dated May 15, written to INEC by the BoT, NEC and NWC, the defendant failed, refused and neglected to effect the necessary corrections in its records or accord recognition to the interim National Working Committee.”

He said upon the non-compliance with the letters, further letters were written through the party’s lawyer, Chief Uche, on May 8 and May 13, urging the INEC to give effect to subsisting judgment of the courts.

The ex-governor said he knew for a fact that INEC is under a constitutional and legal obligation to comply with valid and subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

He described INEC’s actions as “a grave affront to the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

According to him, unless this honourable court intervenes, the defendant will continue to disregard the valid and subsisting judgments of the courts.

Mr Aliyu said it was in the interest of justice for the court to grant the reliefs sought in the originating summons.

The suit has yet to be assigned as of the time this report was filed.

A viral video showing one woman’s account of a DNA test taken with her four siblings has ignited wide discussion online after she claimed the results showed only one of the five children shares a biological father with the man they grew up calling dad.

According to the woman, the test indicated that the siblings have three different biological fathers among them, adding that the youngest is biologically the daughter of the 65-year-old man they know as their father, while the other four have two other fathers between them.

Now 62, the mother was not shown in the video. The woman said the family has not told their father about the results, fearing the emotional toll it could take on him at his age. “If we tell our father, it will destroy him, and we don’t know what to do,” she said.

The post has sparked debate online, with commenters split on whether the family should disclose the findings or keep them private to protect the father’s wellbeing. The siblings have not publicly stated what they plan to do next.

Photo caption: President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.

Dangote Cement Transport has scaled up series of impactful, and technology backed programmes designed to improve performance, governance and compliance to road safety.

Head of Transport, Dangote Cement PLC, Mr. Murilo Silva

A statement from the Branding and Communications Department of the company said the enhanced programmes cover key operational areas, including performance metrics, strengthened governance standards, and improved accountability frameworks.

It further noted that the programmes also extend to comprehensive driver training and competency development, technology-enabled safety systems, journey management protocols, and regular recertification processes.

Other components include mandatory drug screening, strategic partnerships and collaborations, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, sustainability programmes, and community impact programmes, among others.

The statement signed by the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, recalled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had recently commended the company for its proactive safety programmes, which have contributed to reducing road traffic crashes across the country.

The statement quoted Head of Transport of the Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Murilo Silva, as saying that the company has upscaled its transport management systems through the deployment of automated inspection technologies and artificial intelligence-driven solutions aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and road safety.

Mr. Silva said the company has since deployed enhanced GPS and telematics systems for real-time monitoring of driver behaviour during transit, strengthening oversight and operational safety across its fleet.

He added that, in a bid to combat driver fatigue, the company has increased its wellness campaign, while also engaging in a series of stakeholder fora with third-party truck operators and drivers to reinforce safety awareness, compliance, and responsibility on the road.

Mr. Sliva said the company’s collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is already yielding positive results, noting that the partnership has continued to strengthen safety standards across its operations.

He added that FRSC officials are actively involved in the training and screening of drivers at the Dangote Articulated Vehicle Driving School in Obajana, where they provide technical guidance, enforce compliance with best practices, and support the development of highly competent and safety-conscious drivers.

According to him, the percentage of drivers undergoing structured training, drug and alcohol testing, as well as periodic recertification, has increased significantly, describing the growth as “astronomical.”

According to him, between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, recorded significant improvements in its safety compliance measures, with drug and alcohol testing increasing by 245.2 per cent, pre-trip vehicle inspections rising by 489.1 per cent, and driver training programmes expanding by 128.4 per cent.

Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, had commended the company for setting new standards in road safety management and urged it to sustain the reforms that have continued to improve safety across Nigeria’s transport sector.

The Corps Marshal stated that comparatively between 2025 and 2026, road crashes involving trucks belonging to the Dangote Cement Plc declined by 56 per cent, while fatal cases decreased by 36 per cent and injuries dropped significantly by 52 per cent.

He said the improvement has shown that the company has implemented its Gap Analysis, and company policies worthy of emulation by all logistics companies in Africa.

“We have always said that if Dangote Cement get its right, Nigeria and Africa, will get it right. This is a plus for Nigeria,” he said.