The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Tuesday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally declined to recognise the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), dealing a major blow to the camp backed by PDP governors and strengthening the hand of the Nyesom Wike-aligned faction.
INEC anchored its decision on subsisting court judgments and ongoing legal processes, insisting that it could not lawfully recognise the outcome of the party’s disputed national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
While the Turaki camp reacted angrily, accusing the electoral umpire of bias and external influence, the Wike-backed faction welcomed the move, describing it as a victory for the rule of law and a repudiation of what it termed an illegal convention.
In a letter dated December 22 and addressed to the law firm of Akintayo Balogun & Co, solicitors to the Turaki-led NWC, INEC said it was restrained by two final judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, from supervising, recognising or accepting the outcome of the PDP national convention.
The letter, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, cited Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Austine Nwachukwu & 2 Ors. v. INEC & 8 Ors., delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & 4 Ors., delivered on November 14, 2025.
According to INEC, both judgments expressly barred the commission from recognising the PDP convention pending full compliance with court orders, stressing that although appeals had been filed, the filing of an appeal did not amount to a stay of execution.
“Until the 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,” the letter stated.
INEC also dismissed reliance on interim orders issued by the High Court of Oyo State, noting that such orders could not override subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction. It further pointed to pending suits, including one filed by the PDP itself seeking to compel INEC to recognise the Turaki-led NWC, describing the request for recognition as prejudicial.
“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 November 15–16, 2025,” INEC said.
The decision followed weeks of intense contestation within the opposition party, with both the Turaki and Wike camps laying claim to the party’s national leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
PDP governors had earlier endorsed the Ibadan convention and facilitated the transition from former acting national chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki, even before Damagum’s tenure formally expired on December 9. However, Wike and his allies, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the process and moved swiftly to constitute a 60-day caretaker committee on December 8.
Reacting to INEC’s stance, the Turaki-led NWC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, insisted that there was no faction within the PDP and accused the commission of acting under pressure.
Ememobong argued that INEC had monitored key party meetings and primaries conducted under the authority of the Turaki-led leadership, accusing the commission of suppressing these facts in court.
“We appreciate the pressure INEC is under, but its constitutional duty is to Nigerians and the protection of democracy,” he said, adding that the leadership of the party remained firmly under Turaki.
However, the Wike-aligned faction struck a triumphant tone. Senator Anyanwu, National Secretary of the caretaker committee, described INEC’s decision as long overdue.
“This is a welcome development. INEC deserves commendation for respecting the law and court judgments. The Ibadan gathering cannot and should not be acceptable to any legal entity,” he said.
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