- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected request to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led faction as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee over existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.
This was contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by INEC’s Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to reports, INEC in the letter said it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.
The commission maintained that its position was guided by existing court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.
INEC stated that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.
The commission maintained that the requests were reviewed “in the light of all material facts, extant laws, and subsisting court judgments touching directly on the subject matter.”
Citing two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja — Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, delivered on November 14, 2025, INEC said both judgments “expressly restrained” it from supervising, monitoring, recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP National Convention.
The commission said it remains bound by the court’s judgement until they are set aside.
“Both judgments, which are final in nature and binding on all parties, expressly restrained the Commission from supervising, monitoring, recognising, or in any manner whatsoever giving effect to the outcome of the PDP National Convention,” INEC said.
Reacting to the interim orders issued by the Oyo State High Court, declaring INEC out of the suit for lack of jurisdiction, the commission added that interim orders cannot override or nullify subsisting final judgments of courts of coordinate or superior jurisdiction.
INEC further disclosed that another suit filed by the PDP is pending before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
The party had reportedly sought an order compelling the commission to recognise the National Working Committee and members of the National Executive Committee allegedly elected at the Ibadan convention.
“In light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudicial 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,” the commission stated.