The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), referencing ongoing legal proceedings and existing court rulings.
In reaction to the ruling, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Ini Ememobong, asserted that the party leadership was valid and stressed that the PDP had no factions.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the Nyesom Wike-supported faction, praised the action as a genuine respect for court rulings.
PDP governors approved the Ibadan convention, where Turaki and other NWC members were chosen on November 16 for four-year terms.
Wike, together with his associates, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Anyanwu, maintained that they continued to occupy the roles of Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary, respectively.
Although the governors ensured a seamless transition from former chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki before Damagum’s term officially concluded on December 9, the Wike-backed faction proceeded on December 8 to name Mohammed, Anyanwu, and others as 13 members of a caretaker committee for 60 days.
Both groups have since been competing for INEC’s official acknowledgment.
Consequently, INEC, in a letter dated December 22 and addressed to the Turaki-led NWC lawyers, Akintayo Balogun & Co., and signed by Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, titled “Re: Demand for Recognition and Update of the List of the National Officers Elected at the Purported 2025 Elective National Convention of PDP,” obtained by Chronicle NG on Tuesday, stated that it could not recognize or update the list of PDP national officers allegedly elected at the November convention, citing adherence to the law and existing court orders.
The letter read in part: “The commission has carefully considered the demands in 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 October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & 4 Ors., delivered on November 14, 2025.
“Both judgments, which are final in nature and binding on all parties, expressly restrained the commission from supervising, monitoring, recognizing, or in any manner whatsoever accepting the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 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 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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The commission also emphasized the temporary orders given by the High Court of Oyo State in Suit No. 1/1336/2025, Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & Ors., mentioning that its name was eliminated from the suit because of a jurisdictional issue. It stated that, in any event, a temporary order cannot supersede or invalidate current final decisions of courts of equal or superior authority.
It stated in part, “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 recognize the National Working Committee and members of the National Executive Committee elected by the National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 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 recognize 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.”
The PDP, led by Turaki, insisted that there were no factions present in the party.
Ememobong, the party’s Publicity Secretary, stated on Tuesday that the judgments cited by INEC had been challenged and that stay of execution applications had been submitted.
Ememobong stated, “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 upon 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 defense and protection of democracy.
“While INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting judgment on the matter, we hope that they are guided by the judgments of the Supreme Court, especially in the SDP case, being the latest, delivered last week, barring INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.
“The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP, as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. In the past month, the Board of Trustees, Governors’ Forum, state chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives caucuses, former governors and ministers, and many other notable stakeholder groups have all met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki, SAN.
“INEC must remember that democracy is hinged on majority rule, so the committee of friends of Wike and Anyanwu cannot be validly referred to as a faction of the PDP.
“Finally, having held a meeting with the commission last week and our correspondence thereafter further explaining relevant issues relating to the current situation, we should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that has completely colored the actions of the electoral umpire.
“INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in court, where it failed or refused to file documents that were in its possession and within its knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.
“If INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, knew the matter was in court, what was the rationale for the contrived meeting of Friday last week? Except to paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.”
