The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki‑led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.
It cited subsisting court judgments and unresolved legal processes surrounding the party’s leadership crisis as the reason for the move.
In a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran‑Anthony, INEC said it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers purportedly elected at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The commission explained that its decision was guided by existing court rulings and ongoing litigation relating to the party’s internal leadership dispute.
INEC stressed that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers of the opposition party while the matter remains pending in court.
According to the commission, recognising one faction amid unresolved judicial processes would amount to prejudging the outcome of the cases and undermining the rule of law.
The letter reads, “In the light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudiced and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals.
“In the circumstances, and 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 15th- 16th November 2025.”
Remember that a high court had barred PDP from holding a convention slated for November 15th to 16th in Ibadan, however, a court in Ibadan granted the PDP the freedom to hold the convention. The meeting was however not monitored by the INEC and the outcome now rejected by the electoral commission.
