INEC Rejects Request To Recognise Turaki-led PDP Leadership

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, SAN, citing multiple subsisting court judgements.

The Turaki-led NWC is backed by Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde; his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, and that of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal.

In November, the opposition party, with the support of Makinde, Mohammed, and Lawal, held a national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where a new set of national officers emerged.

The convention, however, was preceded by conflicting court rulings. While some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged breaches of the party’s constitution and electoral laws, an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.

Following the convention, a faction of the party opposed to the exercise, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and thereafter announced a parallel national working committee, board of trustees (BoT) and national caretaker committe.

Subsequently, the Makinde-backed PDP, through its counsel, formally requested INEC to recognise Turaki as the party’s authentic national chairman.

In a letter dated December 22 and addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co, the PDP’s legal representatives, INEC said the matter remained sub judice and that it cannot take any administrative action that could pre-empt the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.

The commission said it would not update its records to reflect any change in the PDP’s national leadership until all court cases challenging the convention were 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 letter stated.

It added, “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.”