JUST IN: INEC REFUSES TO RECOGNISE TURAKI-LED PDP NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a request to recognise the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing ongoing court cases and conflicting judicial rulings.

The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The faction emerged from a PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025, which produced a new set of national officers.

The convention, however, was preceded by a series of conflicting court judgments. While some Federal High Courts in Abuja ordered a halt to the exercise over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.

Opposition to the convention was led by a group of party members aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who subsequently formed a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).

Following the convention, the Makinde-backed PDP, through its legal representatives, formally requested INEC to recognise Kabiru Turaki as the party’s authentic national chairman.

However, in a letter dated December 22 and addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co, the PDP’s legal counsel, INEC declined the request, stating that the matter remains sub judice.

The electoral body said it could not take any administrative action that might pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing legal processes challenging the convention and the emergence of the party’s leadership.

INEC added that it would not update its records to reflect any changes in the PDP’s national leadership until all pending court cases and appeals are fully resolved.

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

“In obedience to the rule of law and subsisting court orders, the commission is unable to accede to the demand to recognise or update the list of the national officers said to have emerged from the PDP National Convention of 15–16 November 2025,” the letter added.

The decision underscores INEC’s insistence on strict adherence to the rule of law amid deepening leadership disputes within the opposition party.