The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) led National Working Committee (NWC), in a letter released on Tuesday, December 23.
INEC stated that it cannot recognize the officials elected, at the PDP November 16 party convention in Ibadan due to multiple subsisting court judgments.
The PDP was split into two camps during the November 15-16 Elective National Convention in Ibadan. While the Turaki-led NWC was backed by the governors of the party and the Board of Trustees (BoT), the Wike faction argued the convention was illegal.
Prior to the convention, two Federal High Court judgments (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025) restrained INEC from monitoring or recognizing the outcome. Despite these orders, the governors proceeded, leading to the current legal and administrative stalemate at the INEC headquarters.
INEC stated that although the Turaki camp has filed appeals, the appeal does not operate as a stay of execution, and that until the judgments are vacated, the 2025 convention outcome remains unrecognized.
The commission remains bound to obey and give full effect to [subsisting judgments], in line with Section 287(3) of the Constitution… until the said judgments are set aside – Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to INEC
The Wike faction appointed a 13-member Caretaker Committee led by Mohammed Abdulrahman (Acting Chairman) and Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary) on December 8, to rival Turaki’s leadership.
The Turaki-led NWC’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, accused INEC of unconscionably suppressing facts, claiming the commission had participated in previous NEC meetings where the convention details were agreed upon.
The Turaki camp is banking on the Court of Appeal to set aside the lower court’s rulings before the end of the year.
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