The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has strongly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its refusal to recognize the party’s current National Working Committee (NWC). The PDP accuses INEC of hypocrisy and consistent bias, firmly asserting that “in law and fact, there is no faction in the Peoples Democratic Party,” despite INEC’s claims of being unable to recognize the leadership due to ongoing court cases.

In a press statement issued by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP labeled INEC’s position as misleading and prejudicial to democracy. The party reiterated that its leadership, legitimately elected at the convention in Ibadan, is being deliberately ignored by INEC, which cited Federal High Court judgments as its reason. The PDP, however, revealed that these very judgments are currently being challenged at the Court of Appeal, with applications for stay of execution already filed.

The PDP further accused INEC of deliberately suppressing crucial facts in court. It highlighted that INEC had monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed upon. Moreover, INEC was in receipt of the notice for the convention, facts which the party claims the commission has “unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.” The party also pointed out that INEC had monitored party primaries conducted under the current NWC in Osun and Ekiti states, implying a selective application of rules. The PDP also warned INEC against abandoning its constitutional responsibility and interfering in internal party affairs, referencing recent Supreme Court judgments, including the latest in the SDP case, which bar INEC from such interference.

Reiterating its unified structure, the PDP maintained that all legitimate organs of the party, including the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, State Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former Governors, Ministers, and numerous other stakeholder groups, have met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki SAN. The party dismissed any opposing group, such as the “committee of friends of Wike and Anyanwu,” as illegitimate, emphasizing that “democracy is hinged on majority rule.” The PDP concluded by stating that INEC’s actions, especially after a meeting held with the Commission on December 19, 2025, demonstrate “hypocrisy and consistent bias.” The party questioned the rationale behind a “contrived meeting” if INEC under Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN already knew the matter was in court, suggesting it was to “paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.”

INEC, in its defense, stated that it would not recognize the Kabiru Turaki-led NWC of the PDP, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes. This stance was formally communicated in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The Commission explained that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload the list of national officers purportedly elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan. INEC's position is guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation related to the PDP's leadership crisis, emphasizing that it would be improper to recognize any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

INEC’s letter, addressed to Akintayo Balogun and Co., legal representatives of the PDP, clarified that the commission is legally bound to obey final judgments of courts of competent jurisdiction. The electoral body specifically cited two final and binding judgments from the Federal High Court, Abuja Division: Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 — Austine Nwachukwu & two others v. INEC & eight others, delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025 — Alhaji Sule Lamido v. PDP & four others, delivered on November 14, 2025. These judgments expressly restrained INEC from supervising, monitoring, recognizing, or giving effect “in any manner whatsoever” to the outcome of the PDP National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, or any other date, pending full compliance with the orders of the court.

While acknowledging that notices of appeal had been filed against these judgments, INEC firmly stated that settled law dictates that the filing of an appeal does not amount to a stay of execution. Therefore, “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).”

INEC also addressed an interim order issued by the High Court of Oyo State in Suit No. 1/1336/2025—Folahan Malomo Adelabi v. PDP & others, noting that it had since been struck out of that suit for want of jurisdiction. The commission further clarified that an interim order could not override or nullify subsisting final judgments of a court of coordinate or superior jurisdiction. Additionally, INEC pointed to the PDP's own initiated suit, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/121/2025—PDP v. INEC, which seeks an order mandating the commission to recognize the NWC and National Executive Committee members elected at the Ibadan convention. According to INEC, the existence of this pending suit and appeals renders the PDP's request for recognition “prejudicial” and cannot be acceded to “until the determination of the pending appeals.”

The convention itself, held in Ibadan with the backing of Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, produced a new set of national officers. This event was preceded by a series of conflicting court judgments; some Federal High Courts in Abuja halted the event over alleged breaches, while the Oyo State High Court cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor it. A group of party members led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), opposed the convention and later formed a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC). Despite these complexities, INEC maintained its position on December 19, 2025, during a meeting with PDP representatives, reiterating its inability to recognize or update the list of national officers from the November 2025 convention in obedience to the rule of law and subsisting court orders. The PDP concluded by urging calm among its members and supporters amidst the ongoing legal and political stalemate.