By Charles Maduka
The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the request to recognise the national working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Turaki, citing ongoing court cases as the reason for its decision.
The Turaki-led NWC enjoys support from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. In November, the faction convened a national convention in Ibadan, which produced a new set of party officers amid conflicting court rulings that both halted and cleared the exercise.
A separate group of party members, led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, opposed the convention and later formed a parallel NWC, board of trustees, and national executive committee. The Makinde-backed faction subsequently requested INEC to recognise Turaki as the authentic national chairman.
In a letter dated December 22 to the PDP’s legal representatives, INEC stated that the matter remains sub judice and that it cannot take administrative action that might pre-empt the outcome of ongoing court processes. The commission said it would not update its records to reflect any changes in the party’s leadership until the court cases are resolved.
INEC stressed that in obedience to existing court orders and the rule of law, it cannot accede to the demand to recognise or update the list of national officers said to have emerged from the PDP convention held on November 15-16, 2025.
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