The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally declined a request to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing subsisting court judgements that restrain it from doing so.
INEC said it cannot publish or update the list of national officers purportedly elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, stressing that it is legally bound to comply with final judgements of courts of competent jurisdiction.
The commission’s position was conveyed in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and addressed to Akintayo Balogun and Co., legal representatives of the PDP. INEC disclosed that it had received multiple requests from different PDP lawyers Taiwo Abe and Co. (November 14), Musibau Adetunbi, SAN and Co. (November 19), and Akintayo Balogun and Co. (November 21) all seeking recognition of the national officers said to have emerged from the convention.
The Turaki-led NWC is backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. In November, the PDP, with the support of both governors, held a national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced a new set of national officers.
However, the convention was conducted amid conflicting court rulings. While some Federal High Court judgements in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged breaches of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.
A rival faction within the party, led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, opposed the convention and later announced a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).
INEC said it carefully reviewed the PDP’s request in the light of existing facts, applicable laws, and subsisting court judgements, noting that two final decisions of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, were central to its refusal. These include Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 Austine Nwachukwu & two others v. INEC & eight others, delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025 Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & four others, delivered on November 14, 2025.
According to the commission, both judgements expressly restrained INEC from supervising, monitoring, recognising, or giving effect “in any manner whatsoever” to the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, or any other date, pending full compliance with court orders.
While acknowledging that notices of appeal have been filed against the judgements, INEC stressed that the filing of an appeal does not amount to a stay of execution. It said it remains bound by Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) until the judgements are set aside or stayed by a competent court.
INEC also addressed an interim order issued by the Oyo State High Court in Suit No. 1/1336/2025 — Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & others — stating that the commission had since been struck out of the case for want of jurisdiction. It added that an interim order cannot override subsisting final judgements of a court of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
The commission further revealed that the PDP itself filed another suit, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025 PDP v. INEC, seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the NWC and NEC elected at the Ibadan convention as the party’s lawful leadership. INEC said the pending suit and appeals make the request for recognition prejudicial.
“In the light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudicial and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals,” INEC stated, adding that its position had already been communicated to PDP representatives at a meeting held on December 19, 2025.
Reacting, the PDP insisted that it is not factionalised. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the leadership crisis is being misrepresented.
“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party reiterates that, in law and in fact, there is no faction within the PDP,” Ememobong said, adding that all legitimate organs and administrative structures of the party remain under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, pending the determination of the appeals by the Court of Appeal.
