INEC rejects Turaki-led PDP’s NWC, cites court orders

INEC said it could not recognise the PDP elected in November because of existing court orders.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected in November, citing existing court orders.

The commission disclosed this in a letter to Akintayo Balogun & Co., lawyers to the Turaki-led NWC.

The letter, titled “Re: Demand for Recognition and Update of the List of the National Officers Elected at the Purported 2025 Elective National Convention of PDP,” was signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriarian-Anthony.

It said it could not recognise or update the list of PDP leaders because of the existing court orders.

“The commission has carefully considered the demands in the light of all material facts, extant laws, and most importantly, subsisting court judgments touching directly on the subject matter.

“You may wish to note that there are two subsisting final judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, namely: Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Austine Nwachukwu & 2 Ors. v. INEC & 8 Ors., delivered on 31 October 2025; and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & 4 Ors., delivered on 14 November 2025.

“Both judgements, which are final in nature and binding on all parties, expressly restrained the commission from supervising, monitoring, recognising, or in any manner whatsoever accepting the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on 15 and 16 November 2025, or any other date, pending compliance with the orders of the court.

“While the commission is aware that notices of appeal have been filed against the said judgments, it is settled law that the mere filing of an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution. Until the said judgements 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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

The Turaki-led NWC was elected at its national convention held on 15 and 16 November in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The event, however, was rejected by another faction of the party, led by Mohammed Abdulrahman and loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

In the letter, INEC further referenced the interim orders issued by the High Court of Oyo State in Suit No. 1/1336/2025, Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & Ors., noting that its name had been removed from the suit due to a lack of jurisdiction.

It noted that an interim order could not override or nullify existing final judgments of courts of equal or higher authority.

The commission stated, “In addition, there is also a suit filed by your client in Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025, PDP v. INEC, wherein it sought an order mandating the commission to recognise the National Working Committee and members of the National Executive Committee elected by the National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan on 15 and 16 November 2025, as the Executive Committee of the PDP in all matters pertaining to her, including the conduct of primary elections for political offices and the submission of PDP’s list of candidates for any election to be conducted by the commission.

“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 November 15–16, 2025.

“The above points were reiterated to your client during the commission’s meeting with them on Friday, December 19, 2025.”

INEC’s decision comes barely two weeks after it held a meeting with both factions of the opposition party in Abuja.

Turaki-led NWC kicks

Meanwhile, the Turaki-led NWC has condemned the decision not to recognise it by the electoral body.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, on Tuesday, the faction said the judgments cited by INEC had been appealed and that applications for stay of execution had been filed.

It added that the Court of Appeal was expected to hear the cases and deliver rulings soon.

“While that is being awaited, it is needful to state that INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed, and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention — a fact the commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.

“Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. While we appreciate the monumental pressure that INEC has come under (after all, he who pays the piper calls the tune), we remind them that their constitutional responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and in the defence and protection of democracy,” it stated.

Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary of Mohammed Abdulrahman-led faction, has reportedly hailed INEC’s decision.