PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Request to Recognise Turaki-Led NWC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally declined a request to recognise the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing binding court judgments that restrain it from doing so.

INEC said it could not publish or recognise the list of national officers allegedly elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, because subsisting court orders expressly prohibit such action.

In a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by its Secretary, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co., legal representatives of the PDP, the commission stated that it was legally bound to obey final judgments of courts of competent jurisdiction, which bar it from recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the convention.

According to INEC, the request followed a series of letters from different PDP legal representatives, Taiwo Abe & Co. (November 14, 2025), Musibau Adetunbi, SAN & Co. (November 19, 2025), and Akintayo Balogun & Co. (November 21, 2025), all urging the commission to recognise and update its website with the list of officers said to have emerged from the convention.

The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. With their support, the PDP held a national convention in Ibadan in November, producing a new set of national officers.

However, the convention was preceded by conflicting court rulings. While some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan permitted the convention and directed INEC to monitor it.

A rival faction within the party, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, opposed the convention and subsequently formed a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).

INEC said it carefully reviewed the PDP’s request in light of the relevant laws, facts, and, most importantly, subsisting court judgments directly related to the matter. The commission identified two key final judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, as central to its decision.

These are 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.

INEC explained that both judgments, which are final and binding, expressly restrained the commission 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 on any other date, pending full compliance with the court orders.

Although notices of appeal have been filed against the judgments, INEC noted that the filing of an appeal does not constitute a stay of execution.

“Until the said judgments are set aside or stayed by a competent court, the commission remains bound to obey and give full effect to them in line with Section 287(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the letter stated.

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, noting that the commission had since been struck out of the suit for want of jurisdiction. It added that an interim order could not override subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.

The commission further disclosed that the PDP itself had filed another suit, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, PDP v. INEC, seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise the NWC and NEC members elected at the Ibadan convention. INEC said the existence of the pending suit and appeals makes the request for recognition prejudicial.

“In the light of the pending suits, your request is prejudicial and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals,” the commission said.

INEC stressed that in compliance with the rule of law and existing court orders, it could not recognise or update the list of national officers said to have emerged from the PDP convention of November 15 and 16, 2025. It added that this position had already been communicated to PDP representatives during a meeting held on Friday, December 19, 2025.